During the intermission of the Atlantic versus Metro match at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game, the Tampa Bay Lightning organization awarded Willie O’Ree with the Lightning Foundation’s Community Hero grant. This award is given by the Lightning organization during every single home game to a deserving member of the Tampa Bay community.
Although O’Ree is not a resident of Tampa Bay, this award was given in honor of his service to the game of hockey, awarding him for the perseverance to break into an all-white sport as the very first black player in 1958, playing for the Boston Bruins.