WHL Star
Before the NHL came to the West Coast, there was the Western Hockey League. A “minor league” operation that was to hockey, what the Pacific Coast League was to baseball before the Dodgers and Giants moved west in 1958. Two teams represented SoCal in those days the L.A. Blades and original San Diego Gulls. Willie O’Ree played for both.
When the L.A. Blades joined the WHL in 1967, O’Ree was part of the team. He was with Los Angeles for their entire existence 1961-67. They weren’t very good, but O’Ree was a standout and their best player. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in games (378), goals (175), and points (325). Additionally, he was 3rd in assists (150), and fourth penalty minutes (306).
In the mid 60’s, the National Hockey League was facing mounting competition from other leagues including the WHL. Jack Kent Cooke was awarded a franchise in 1966 and the Los Angeles Kings played their first game in 1968. That spelled the end of the Blades. O’Ree, however, stayed in SoCal, joining the original San Diego Gulls for the 1967-68 season.
San Diego was one of the WHL’s best drawing teams and the Fredericton, NB native was one of the reasons. Len Ronson, Al Nicholson, and O’Ree were the stars that filled the old San Diego Sports Arena. He stayed in San Diego until the league folded in 1973-74 and finished third in franchise history in games (407), goals (153), and points (314).
Even though he was 37 when the WHL ceased operations, he stayed in San Diego, playing for two other lower level teams, the San Diego Charms (SoCal Sr.), and San Diego Hawks (Pacific Hockey League). O’Ree finally hung up his skates at the age of 40 and settled in the city.