; instead, never disclosing the extent of his injury, he pursued his dream of playing professional hockey. (6) At the age of 22, O’Ree was called up from the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Hockey League (QHL) to play for the NHL’s Boston Bruins at a time when only 6 teams existed in the league. O’Ree was unaware he had broken the color barrier at the top level of the sport until he read it in the newspaper the following day. (7) Blind in 1 eye and a victim of racism at times throughout his career, O’Ree persevered and played professional hockey for 22 years, tallying over 1,000 points. (8) In 1996, 17 years after O’Ree retired from professional hockey, the National Hockey League hired O’Ree as the first-ever Diversity Ambassador. Having already changed the game forever through his courage and convictions, O’Ree gives new definition to what it means to be a trailblazer. (9) In this role as Diversity Ambassador with the NHL, O’Ree set out to grow the sport by providing access, opportunity, and motivation for children of all races, ethnicities, origins, and abilities. With O’Ree providing a vivid example of what is possible and serving as a relentless supporter of children pursuing their dreams, more than 30 nonprofit youth organizations, dubbed Hockey is for Everyone programs, were developed across North America, each committed to offering minority and underserved children an opportunity to play hockey, leveraging the sport to build character, foster positive values, and develop important life skills. (10) Through Hockey is for Everyone programs, more than 120,000 boys and girls have been positively impacted. O’Ree has devoted nearly 2,500 days on the ground with the youth participants, visiting more than 500 schools, community centers, and rinks to speak to hockey’s core values and beliefs: stay in school; set goals for yourself; remain committed and disciplined