Detroit native and “Detroit Ice Dreams” founder Jason McCrimmon won the U.S. edition of the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award during Monday night’s NHL Awards, and McCrimmon spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills regarding his experience:
Jason McCrimmon took a deep breath before approaching the mic on stage after being presented with the 2023 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award at the 2023 NHL Awards on Monday.
After gazing out to the audience inside Bridgestone Arena, McCrimmon briefly gathered himself and started to deliver his acceptance speech.
Then, according to McCrimmon, he quickly went off script.
“They have all the finalists, if you want to, write a 30-second speech,” McCrimmon recently told DetroitRedWings.com. “But when I got up there, I was able to see the crowd. So the part where I talk about the city of Detroit wasn’t originally in there; it was what I felt. I love my city. I want my city to be seen in a different light. I want us to be in a situation where there is so much love in the city and we can do more as a group. Hopefully getting this puts us in a better light, for everything and everyone who is involved.”
Continued; the honor was well-deserved and hard-earned!
