SPRINGFIELD - The 5,563 fans at the MassMutual Center gave a long standing ovation to Willie O'Ree, who was welcomed into the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame in Friday night's pregame.

On a night that celebrated diversity, the Thunderbirds also began the task of overcoming adversity. Their 5-3 victory over Hartford gave them their second victory of the season - and a cherished one over their natural rival.

It was sparked by Curtis Valk, who scored two goals. Samuel Montembeault backed the offense with 38 saves in goal.

Jayce Hawryluk's power-play goal with eight seconds left in the second period broke a 2-2 tie and helped make O'Ree's night a total success.

"I came to do two things, talk to kids at school and see the Thunderbirds play,'' O'Ree told the crowd before dropping the ceremonial first puck. "It's great to be back in Springfield after all these years.''

O'Ree's first visit was brief but historic. The New Brunswick native became the first black player in American Hockey League history during his time with the Springfield Indians in the fall of 1957.

In January of 1958, O'Ree broke the NHL color line with the Boston Bruins. Still spry and dapper at 82, he still carries the banner for opportunity and diversity in hockey as an NHL ambassador who speaks to youth groups and especially encourages minorities and city kids to give hockey a chance.

"I cross paths with Willie quite a bit. We have a team in San Diego, where he lives, and he goes to all the games there. A great guy,'' AHL president Dave Andrews said.

The idea to bring O'Ree to Springfield was a "collaborative effort,'' Thunderbirds president Nate Costa said. Not only had O'Ree's brief time in Springfield been largely forgotten, but even his place as the NHL's "Jackie Robinson of hockey" deserves more of the attention the T-Birds gave it Friday.

O'Ree spoke at Springfield's Renaissance School during the day. He was to fly back to California Saturday.

"We had about 400 kids at the school, and they asked some great questions,'' said O'Ree, who carved out a 25-year pro career (mostly in the Western Hockey League) and played until he was 45.

The game was certainly more than an afterthought for the Thunderbirds, who grabbed a 2-0 first-period lead. Anthony Greco tipped Dryden Hunt's shot from the right circle for a power-play goal at 10:18.

Valk doubled the lead at 16:14. Hunt took a punishing hit in the right corner, but not before feeding Valk, whose high shot beat Hartford goalie Alexandar Georgiev on the short side.

The Wolfpack quickly tied it on two power-play goals in the first 2:09 of the second period, but Hawryluk's goal untied it. Valk and Mike Downing scored in the third period, with Downing scoring short-handed. Henrik Haapala contributed a three-assist night.

Defenseman Tim Erixon was in the lineup after signing with the T-Birds on Wednesday. Erixon played for the Springfield Falcons during the 2013-14 season and has 93 games of NHL experience with the New York Rangers, Columbus, Chicago and Toronto.

Montembeault's first win of the season was well-earned. Hartford outshot the Birds 32-19 over the second and third periods.