The Washington Capitals will have a ceremony before Tuesday’s game as part of their “Hockey is for Everyone” celebrations. Two important figures in Black history will drop the ceremonial puck before the game against the Ottawa Senators.

U.S. Representative John Lewis is a lawmaker and civil rights legend who helped organize the March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Lewis will be joined by Willie O’Ree, the first Black player in NHL history and recent inductee into the Hall of Fame.

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ARLINGTON, Va. – Civil rights leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis and NHL Legend Willie O’Ree will participate in a ceremonial puck drop prior to the Capitals game vs. the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

The game marks the Capitals Black History in Hockey Theme Night, honoring diversity and inclusion in hockey with tributes throughout the game.

Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won him the admiration of many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress.

O’Ree was the first black hockey player in the NHL, making his debut on Jan. 18, 1958, as a member of the Boston Bruins organization. O’Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 in the Builders category.

Headline photo: Larry French/Getty Images