I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Jarome Iginla. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Enter Search Term. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and well show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Previously, in the early '80s, one of my team's assistant coaches advised me to start dating a Black woman instead of Sue for similarly ignorant and bigoted reasons. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. Gambling problem? Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. In fact, I think their parents were thinking about saying, Look, why dont you just go play soccer, because it was so bad as far as the remarks. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. Editor's note: As part of the NHL celebrating Black History Month throughout February, NHL.com will present first-person essays by some of the game's key Black players and executives. But he was reassigned to the minors. But it wasn't to be. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? Things just felt right that year. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. Reality doesn't always add up. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. 1989-1990 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1987-1988 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (4) 1986-1987 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1985-1986 Postseason Fight Card NHL (2) 1983-1984 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) Tony McKegney is 64 years old today because Tony's birthday is on 02/15/1958.Tony McKegney currently lives in East Amherst, NY; in the past Tony has also lived in Saint Louis MO, Detroit MI and Buffalo NY.Tony also answers to Tony S Mckegney, Anthony S Mckegney and Anthony F Mckegney, and perhaps a couple of other names. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. ago] Height 6.01 -- Weight 200 [185 cm/91 kg] Drafted by Buffalo Sabres - round 2 #32 overall 1978 NHL Amateur Draft Regular Season Playoffs; McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. We were all set to move, until the homeowner told us there was a problem: They didn't want to rent to us once they found out we were a biracial couple. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Of course, I also thought about the bonus clause in my contract, which promised $15,000 if I happened to score 40 goals (that was a lot of money in those days). I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. After completing the 1990-91 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tony would spend a season in Italy with HC Varese as well as three games with the Canadian National Team. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. "People just forget me because I didn't play. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. McKegney was supposed to play in the WHA for the Birmingham Bulls, but the team illegally voided his deal after fans in Alabama threatened a boycott. Hes been an All-Star. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. It barely made it over the line. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. (approx 1 - 2 per week). Transaction information may be incomplete. During his first stint in Quebec, he played for the team until December 14, 1984 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars along with Bo Berglund in exchange for Brad Maxwell and Brent Ashton. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. by Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. He got out of his contract, went back to Michigan and started playing for the Kalamazoo Wings, an International Hockey League team, while establishing himself at Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. "I was incredulous. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. That's the biggest compliment for me.". A couple of weeks ago, Ron MacLean from Hockey Night in Canada gave the McKegney family a shout out during the Saturday night broadcast, recognizing McKegney as part of Black History month. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. INDIANAPOLIS Along with the change in defensive coordinator with Leslie Frazier deciding to "take a step back," Bills General Manager Brando, The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge, Frazier, who turns 64 in April, plans to return to coaching in 2024, the Bills said. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Want to more about Him? Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. I didnt talk to many people about it. It's like a catch-22.". You have permission to edit this article. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. When submitting content, please abide by our, Hockey Night in Canada: Senators vs. Blue Jackets on Sportsnet, Watch Hockey Night in Canada with Steve Dangle: Oilers vs. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). It's not the 40 goals I scored. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. I was at a Queens University hockey game. When the last road trip started, I thought about how meaningful it would be to end the season with a goal total that was a round number. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday that former Buffalo Sabres winger Tony McKegney was arraigned before a Buffalo City Court Judge back on. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. He is not dating anyone. I just felt defeated," he said. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Go beyond the basics. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Brother: Ian McKegney There have been 93 black players in the NHL. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. I know there werent very many [black players]. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Buy his book. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. TM: We never really talked about it much. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. We didn't recognize that password reset code. All rights reserved. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. But on the. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. My mother and father -- who adopted me from an orphanage in Montreal, and who happen to be white -- built a hockey rink in our backyard every winter, where I'd skate with my siblings. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. Comments are welcome while open. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. Playing hockey at a high level is difficult enough without navigating the pressures of racism in society or figuring out how to respond to the supposed "fan" with a sign that says, "McKegney, grab a basketball" behind the Zamboni entrance. The key is for him to keep working.. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Tony McKegney. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. Im sure it affected me. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. The subtext of the situation was clear: Because I'm a Black man, there were certain things the homeowner felt like I couldn't or shouldn't do. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. McKegney had been expected to sign with Birmingham of the World Hockey Association, but the deal fell through and he was taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (No. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. So, I reached out. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. I ignored that coach, of course. Its basically black children. The Nordiques didn't have a farm team that year, so he was sent to play for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, one of the Montreal Canadiens' farm teams. "I think for us growing and trying to make it into the NHL, guys like [Bernie], who help you and calm you at the right time, it was huge.". Or write about sports? And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. Today, Tony McKegney, the first Black player to score 40 goals in an NHL season, tells his story of overcoming racial bias and serving as inspiration for Jarome Iginla, the only other Black player to hit the 40-goal milestone. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. Tony McKegney (born Anthony Syiid McKegney on February 15, 1958) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played in the NHL for 13 seasons from 197879 until 199091. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. I just tried to shut everything else out. "I got a lot of feedback from people in Canada that they were accepted in the schoolyard or outdoor rink because they could point to me as being a person of color playing in the National Hockey League. He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Ian McKegney (who had been a star with the Sarnia Legionnaires before moving on to the pros). Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Saunders was part of a wave of black players who debuted after Willie O'Ree became the first black player in the National Hockey League in 1958. Jonathan freaked out. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. His supporters created a fan club. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. In February 1988, I was interviewed for an article called "Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL," where I talked about how the season was going and importance of role models. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Join our linker program. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Your existing password has not been changed. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. McKegney, a Montreal native who was raised in Sarnia by his adoptive family, was drafted by the Sabres with the 32nd overall pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Saunders says it's tremendous. Anytime I faced adversity, I said, Okay, Im going to put a couple of pucks in the net today for sure. And I was just going to show everybody that I was as good or better than them. 'We've taken one step forward and two back': Willie O'Ree on fighting racism in sports, This rural Ontario black hockey line broke barriers producing generations of star players, Being Black in Canada: Highlighting the Black experience, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. of 1 We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. By midseason, people started to notice. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Before Jarome was an NHL superstar and represented Canada in three Olympics, he was just like every other Canadian kid playing ball hockey in the school yard -- except he stood out for looking different than the 'typical' hockey player. More Tony McKegney videos. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. In fact, I didn't play against another Black hockey player for nearly 18 years -- when Ray Neufeld, Grant Fuhr, and I were all active in the League. All Rights Reserved. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. You get to keep that mask on and Im out there for everybody to see. So, I told Grant, jokingly, that I was envious of him. That fast-forwarding tends to bypass the magical middle and the stories of many players who felt alone but nonetheless accomplished great things, opening opportunities for those who followed. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community.
Does Wellcare Part D Cover Shingrix Vaccine,
Timberjack 240 Specifications,
How To Lasso Someone's Neck In Rdr2,
Houses For Rent In Lincolnton, Ga,
Queen Victoria Cabins To Avoid,
Articles T