Talk:Willie O'Ree
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[edit] Western Hockey expansion and O'Ree
For what it is worth, I could agree with the earlier version that O'Ree was pioneer of hockey for the Western U.S. Perhaps there were teams already, but he was a draw for new audiences.
- Do you actually know that or are you guessing that he did? O'Ree was a solid player for many years, but only once was he even second on his own team in scoring, and the degree to which he would have been a Gretzkyesque draw just because he was black is questionable at the best. It would be like asserting that Tony McKegney -- more of an impact player for his teams than O'Ree, as to that -- was a particular arena draw. Does anyone have any attendance figures or contemporary cites to offer? RGTraynor 19:56, 12 October 2005 (UTC)
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- Actually considering I wasn't alive at the time, I am just going anecdotal tales from people who saw him at the L.A. Sports Arena. According to folks, he was a draw with the Blades not because of his scoring, or the color of his skin, but the style of his play. He was known for something which isn't utilized much in the current era of the game, which was the ability to be at full speed within a shorter amount of strides compared to the competition. ALso I don't think the author was comparing O'Ree to Gretzky skillwise/numberswise, just as a draw for the sport that was afoundation for things to come.
OK, he played wing. Which wing? Trekphiler 21:25, 8 December 2005 (UTC)
- Both, actually. RGTraynor 01:22, 9 December 2005 (UTC)
he' cool
