The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday honoring former Bruin Willie O’Ree, the first Black player in NHL history.
The bill would award O’Ree the Congressional Gold Medal. O’Ree — who was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 2018 — had his No. 22 retired on Tuesday by the Bruins prior to the game against the Hurricanes.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley gave a speech regarding the bill on the floor of the house on Wednesday.
“Black history is American history, and I am thrilled to see our bill to award Willie O’Ree with the Congressional Gold Medal pass the House of Representatives today,” Pressley said in a statement.