Willie O'Ree, Jonathan Cheechoo, Ryane Clowe and Torrey Mitchell attend Oakland youth hockey clinic

Friday afternoon the San Jose Sharks and the National Hockey League organized a youth hockey clinic at the Oakland Ice Center. It was held in conjunction with the NHL's 50th anniversary celebration of Willie O'Ree breaking the color barrier in hockey. O'Ree is the NHL's Director of Youth Development and Diversity Programming, and on January 18th he was called up from the Quebec Aces to play for the Boston Bruins against rival Montreal. He was the first black athlete to play in the National Hockey League. The NHL Diversity program is geared towards creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged kids to play the game.

The cost of equipment and the lack of organization/facilities is a barrier to entry in many communities, and since 1995 the NHL Diversity program has been working with 39 different youth hockey programs to address that problem. O'Ree mentioned that kids can play an entire year for as little as $50.

On Friday afternoon, San Jose Sharks forwards Jonathan Cheechoo, Ryane Clowe and Torrey Mitchell joined Boston Bruins veteran Willie O'Ree to skate around the 2 downtown rinks at Oakland Ice.