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Willie O’Ree earns his rightful place atop the rafters

The trailblazing Willie O’Ree finally has his place atop the TD Garden rafters.

It wasn’t a long time coming from just an on-ice perspective for hockey’s version of Jackie Robinson. His success went beyond donning the spoked ‘B’, helping provide minorities inclusivity in the sport after appearing in his first NHL game 64 years ago Tuesday.

The omicron breakout amid the COVID-19 pandemic prevented O’Ree from attending his retirement ceremony in person. The sold-out crowd on Causeway St. did hear from O’Ree — a recent recipient of the congressional gold medal — via Zoom as Bruins alum Anson Carter and representatives from SCORE Boston raised O’Ree’s No.