Willie O'Ree Weekend Brings Joy, Inclusion to HIFE Kids

NHL and Red Wings host annual skills event for diverse youth hockey players

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:00am

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The NHL and Detroit Red Wings hosted the annual Willie O'Ree Skills Weekend, welcoming 46 boys and girls ages 10 to 16 from 21 Hockey Is For Everyone (HIFE) programs across North America. The event featured on-ice drills, games, and off-ice activities, providing an inclusive and joyful experience for the young players, including those with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities.

Why it matters

The O'Ree weekend celebrates diversity in hockey and brings together players from varying backgrounds to participate in activities that build confidence and teach life skills. The event honors Willie O'Ree, the first Black player in the NHL, and his legacy of inspiring over 130,000 youth to play the sport.

The details

The weekend included practice sessions with guest coaches like Anson Carter, tours of Detroit landmarks, a screening of the documentary 'Soul on Ice: Past, Present & Future,' and interactions with Red Wings players and alumni. The highlight for many was the on-ice competition, where players from programs like Dallas Stars Adaptive Sports, Central Park North Stars, and HEROS Hockey's SuperHEROS program competed alongside each other, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and inclusion.

  • The Willie O'Ree Skills Weekend took place from March 19-22, 2026.
  • NHL linesman Shandor Alphonso, the League's second Black on-ice official, served as a guest referee during the kids' games on March 21 before working the Bruins-Red Wings game that night.

The players

Mark Wilkins

A 16-year-old Calgary resident with Down syndrome who participated in the event for the first time.

Kwauvon Wilson Jr.

A 12-year-old forward who plays in the Greater Flint Hockey Association and attended the weekend to learn from players with better skills and moves.

Anson Carter

A former NHL forward and current 'NHL on TNT' analyst, who is a member of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition.

Jason McCrimmon

The founder of Detroit Ice Dreams, a 2023 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award recipient.

Rico Phillips

The founder of the Flint Inner-City Youth Hockey Program, a 2019 O'Ree Community Hero Award recipient.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody was just simply a hockey player, and that was unbelievably meaningful for all everybody involved.”

— Jen O'Brien, Executive Director, American Special Hockey Association

“When people say, 'Hockey is for everyone,' you think it's an overused phrase, right? But if you walked into that room, it really was a representation of what we think hockey could be.”

— Anson Carter, NHL on TNT Analyst, Former NHL Forward

“I think that's kind of our job to inspire the youth and the ones coming behind us, and that's kind of what I hope to do with everything I do on the ice and within the NHL.”

— Shandor Alphonso, NHL Linesman

What’s next

The NHL and Red Wings plan to continue hosting the annual Willie O'Ree Skills Weekend, providing more opportunities for diverse youth hockey players to come together, learn, and celebrate the sport.

The takeaway

The Willie O'Ree Skills Weekend demonstrates the NHL's commitment to making hockey truly inclusive, providing a joyful and empowering experience for young players from all backgrounds. Events like this help break down barriers and inspire the next generation to pursue their hockey dreams.