On January 18, 1958, hockey player Willie O’Ree of the Boston Bruins becomes the first black man to play in the NHL.

*Editor's note: Willie O'Ree was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

After the Carolina Hurricanes won The "Stanley Cup" in Raleigh at the RBC Center, this town has been hockey crazed. It's understandable, who can forget the image of Rod Brind'Amour lifting the trophy in 2006.

It was magic and our city had arrived. Raleigh, NC had won a professional sports championship, WOW... what a feeling!!  Hockey is so invigorating and fun to watch. However, as a fan of all sports I don't follow hockey as much because I feel its noted discrimination on the team and fan level against African Americans is hard to applaud.

It must have been a very difficult road because Boston had it's racial barriers throughout the civil rights movement and some exist to this day in Boston neighborhoods. I'm Irish, with a African-American mother, trust me - I know. Bostonian tempers flared years later as Magic and Bird battled for NBA supremacy.

I think it's important to note that there have been 40 African-American players since, including former Hurricanes goalie Kevin Weekes. Although O'Ree was the first, there would not be another African-American in the NHL for 25 years after his arrival. That is mind-blowing to me when you think about the popularity of the sport.

The Canadian born O' Ree did not face the same racial inequality in his home country and was quite shocked to find such racial strife here in America.

Apparently, the ignorance still lives on in a few hockey arenas: 

As recently as Sept. 2011, Philadelphia Flyer Wayne Simmonds dealt with a London, Ontario fan throwing a Banana Peel on the ice. While this particular fan was blasted for his ignorance, it is important to note that the NHL was "the whitest sport" in history. By 1950 every major sport had integrated, yet Hockey held out.  As we get closer to Black History month and those pioneers who paved the way - Allow me to Salute Mr. Willie O' Ree.

It's not that I don't like hockey, because I do - It is a fast paced game of skill. Much like golf, culturally African Americans are not exposed to it and my hope is that as the sport grows - so do people's minds and hearts.

For more on Willie O' Ree click here