Willie O'Ree 'overwhelmed and thrilled' as his jersey No. 22 is finally retired by Boston Bruins

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Willie O'Ree's number 22 was retired by the Bruins.

Willie O'Ree's jersey will be retired on Tuesday night, and his No. 22 will be hung in the rafters. (0:23)

7:44 PM

The Boston Bruins retired Willie O'Ree's number on Tuesday night.

My mind was set on making it to the NHL from a young age. O'Ree spoke before the Bruins' game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Boston and said he was grateful and honored that it was with the Bruins.

O'Ree broke the NHL's color barrier on January 18, 1958, in a game between the Bruins and the Montreal Habs. He played 45 games in the NHL with Boston over the course of two seasons.

O'Ree is the 12th Bruins player to have his number retired, and the first since Rick Middleton's No. 16 went to the rafters. O'Ree was supposed to have his number retired in February of 2021, but it was delayed due to fan capacity restrictions.

To the Bruins fans, I'm honored to have played before you. O'Ree said thank you for your love and support. This is an unforgettable day. I am very excited to be a part of the Bruins.

O'Ree was a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has served as a diversity ambassador for the NHL over the last few decades.

His family's home in San Diego was where he delivered his speech.

The long travel and associated risks that come along with a cross-country trip have led O'Ree and his family to make the difficult decision to participate virtually.

The Bruins wore special edition jerseys with Willie O'Ree patches on them for their warm-ups. The players wore the same number in warm-ups. The lockers in their dressing room had a patch on them and a photo of O'Ree. The decals on the ice at the Garden will stay for the next three games in Boston.

Outside the arena, there was a celebration too. Willie O'Ree Day was declared in Boston. The stadiums and City Hall were all lit up in gold to honor him. O'Ree was honored on the Jumbotron before the games.

Boston coach Bruce Cassidy thinks it's a great honor for Willie. He is a pioneer to say the least. I'm happy for him and his family.

The Bruins met with O'Ree virtually on Monday, with players gathered in the film room. He was given a fedora by the team, with David Pastrnak saying that it had feathers in Bruins colors.

The players of color in the NHL celebrated the moment for O'Ree. New York Rangers forward Ryan Reaves, and the Lightning's Mathieu Joseph were in the video tribute.

People reached out on social media.

Willie O'Ree's No. 22 will be hung from the rafters tonight. I can't stress how much Mr. O'Ree has meant to me and millions of other kids who love hockey.