You’ll find his National Hockey League statistics on page 292 of the latest N.H.L. player register.He shares that page with two others who also performed for the Boston Bruins – the durable Terry O’Reilly and everybody’s all-time all-star, Bobby Orr. Like O’Reilly, Willie had the tenacity and talent to fashion for himself a lengthy professional career – twenty-three years to be exact; and like Orr, he elicited admiration wherever he played because he always gave completely of himself. His career took form from Fredericton to Quebec, Kingston, Ottawa, Los Angeles, San Diego and New Haven before he retired after the 1979 season. A great deal has been made of the fact that he was the first black player to play in the National Hockey League.But a scribe caught the real significance of the man when he wrote:“He is the air of friendship and compassion.Proud and not afraid to show it, his self-confidence only serves to reveal his humility.” Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 2, 1984