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Willie O’Ree set to take his rightful place atop Garden rafters

When he hung up the skates in 1979, Willie O’Ree never imagined to see his number in the TD Garden rafters with fellow greats like Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Milt Schmidt (to name an esteemed few).

After all, several Bruins wore No. 22 after O’Ree’s retirement, including Shawn Thornton.

But O’Ree’s trailblazing stature drew respect all across the National Hockey League. Bruins President Cam Neely echoed that sentiment in a phone call with O’Ree when he revealed that his No. 22 will take its rightful place in the TD Garden rafters before the Bruins-Devils tilt on Feb.