Who was better: Herb Carnegie or Willie O'Ree?

Question

Snoop got me thinking about this....

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvVEOQJurKZFuHlW6Znc8xbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071017153214AAqtfwF&show=7#profile-info-3d6336e748e1dab1972f475294efe2a8aa

...and it has never dawned on me until now. I know some of you are going to say O'Ree because he actually made it into the NHL, but racial standards were a lot different in '58 than it was when Carnegie was playing (I think it was about a ten year gap, but I could be wrong). I doubt that even LITY was around back then to compare the two, and I've only seen O'Ree play on archived footage.

So, talent-wise and skills, who do you think was better?

Answer 1

Herb Carnegie was far and away the better player. Prior to Tony McKegney, Carnegie was widely considered to be the best coloured player in the history of hockey. Grant Fuhr and Jarome Iginla have managed to secure their claims to the title since then.

I had the chance to watch Carnegie during his 30s when the Quebec Aces would play the Montreal Royals (I was 10-13) and because he was good, he was sort of billed as an oddity. He was a complete player. he had speed, a good shot, and melded well with some guy named Beliveau. He was a joy to watch

Willy O'Ree? I was better than Willie O'Ree. Unfortunately I played in Chicago's system, and he was in Boston's. I think I could have cracked the line-ups of the Bruins and the Rangers in the 60s as neither team was as deep as the other four. That's not to take away anything from Willie. I played against Willie in the early 60s and he was a tough competitor. But he was no Herb Carnegie.


Chris, both men are still alive. Herb lives in Toronto and is currently 87 (88 in a month or so) and Willie O'Ree turned 72 this past Monday

Answer 2

solid factors, yet no. If any black participant from that factor could be in the hall, and going via your pre-specifications, it is going to be Herb Carnegie. i've got stated those many cases: Jean Beliveau replaced into quoted asserting that Carnegie replaced into extra effective than he replaced into at the same time as he replaced into taking part in for the Quebec Aces. Conn Smythe replaced into additionally quoted asserting that he might provide "$10, 000 to any guy who can turn Carnegie white." it relatively is how solid he replaced into. If we are speaking approximately skills and skill, I honestly think of that Carnegie is extra effective than O'Ree, he has made an prolonged-lasting impression on the hockey international such because of the fact the Junior Aces, as an occasion (the place Anson Carter all started taking part in hockey). I could relatively ask that... Habsburg: there replaced right into a great coloration barrier lower back then. O'Ree broke it in 'fifty 8 via taking part in in simple terms some video games for the Bruins. The NHL is now prevalent because of the fact the final professional activities league (out of the 4) to break it. solid factor, PuckDat. If O'Ree could be in the hall, it is going to be in the builders. you know what the unusual factor is? Neither of them is in the hall. i might've concept Carnegie might've been in there as a builder for the Junior Aces, yet nope. LITY: i'm finding in the process the hall website now and there is no O'Ree or Carnegie everywhere. OHHHHHHHHHH.....ok, LITY...i replaced into thinking of it in a diverse context...I gotcha.

Answer 3

Great question here! Basing my eventual answer from my readings, Carnegie would have been an exciting player to watch back in the Original Six era, provided racist bastards didn't have their collective heads up their collective asses. While O'Ree was the prototypical power forwardback then, Carnegie was a 1930s-1940s forerunner to Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla, and Glenn Anderson. The guy was a complete player.

Answer 4

It was Carnegie's own choice to decline a contract with the Rangers as he was making better money in senior hockey at the time. That being said, I think Carnegie was the more talented player. I'm of the opinion that there were any number of guys who played in the Nova Scotia Colored Hockey League, etc. who would definitely be NHL material if they were around today. Remember, the all-white NHL had but six teams.

Answer 5

O'Ree was like the Arthur Ashe of Tennis. Ahead of his time. He just had to keep his head down and play. Not sure whom was better, they both played a great game. Oh, hockey just ain't what it used to be.

Answer 6

I honestly have no idea. But I'm sure LITY would, he was around back then, he was 17.

Answer 7

umm well this was probably before my mom was born lol.

i only wish i knew who you were talking about.. a bunch of old dead guys is all i know..

Answer 8

I say it again "LITY for mayor of Hockeytown!"