Keep reading with unlimited digital access. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. Tony McKegney | Ice Hockey Wiki | Fandom And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. Check out the Black Girl Hockey Club, a non-profit organization that focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black women, their family, friends and allies. Jarome Iginla. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. It made me angry, made me sad. All Rights Reserved. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. TM: We never really talked about it much. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) For more, check out this Q&A with McKegney & Sportsnet: While its we celebrate the historic achievements of Black players throughout Sabres history, its equally important to celebrate the Black players in the NHL today, including several with current or former ties to the Buffalo Sabres organization. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. Tony McKegney has a great family story - Kincardine Independent TM: No, not really. He is not dating anyone. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. He was also able to open doors and create a level of acceptance for young black players who could point to him and his contemporaries as successes. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects Lightning. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. But it wasn't to be. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. of 1 Carbonneau, a Hall of Famer who played and coached for the Canadiens and now works as an analyst, remembers Saunders as an honest player and hard worker someone who could do pretty much anything on the ice and served as a veteran presence on the team. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. - Improve your search rank After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. But on the. At the age of 20, Tony signed a contract with the now defunct World Hockey Associations (WHA) team in Birmingham, Alabama only to see the owner illegally renege on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for having added a black player to its roster. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. I take my hat off to Grant. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Im sure it affected me. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. 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. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. After playing in 64 games for the Rangers, Tony was traded to the St. Louis Blues on May 28, 1987 along with Rob Whistle in exchange for Bruce Bell and future considerations. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. That's how good he was.". Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. TM: It just made me want to be better. I ignored that coach, of course. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL TM: I liked all sports. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Tony McKegney Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Age, Family, Facts and More Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? We present them here for purely educational purposes. McKegney would remain with the Sabres through the 1982-83 season before enjoying a lengthy NHL career that took him across the United States and into Canada. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? . Do you have a blog? Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 66 games with Kingston of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1976-77 and 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games the following season, when he also played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Tony was born on February 15, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec.. Tony is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a Ice Hockey. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. All Rights Reserved. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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) But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. I probably should have, and I never did that. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Audience Relations, CBC P.O. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. I remember the dedication that my parents put into it when we were younger, driving us to rinks at 7 in the morning, he said. Saunders decided that was it. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Want to more about Him? It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Halls contract with the Bills had expired, although left unanswered is whether the team made an effort to retain him or Hall simply was rea. How does that make you feel? Not a lot from opposing, players, but more so from fans, that they just couldnt handle the fact that the pure white sport, was being dominated by a black kid and that was me. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Position: LW Shoots: Left. It was never published. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. He heard the N-word on the ice and from fans in the stands, and opponents always made sure to finish their checks on 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. 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. Former Buffalo Sabre Tony McKegney charged with violating order of 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. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. Sorry we could not verify that email address. The judge ordered McKegney, while on probation, to complete all assessments, counselling and treatments directed by his probation supervisor to deal with issues arising from domestic. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. "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. His supporters created a fan club. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. 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. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. They had talks about what to do when the racist taunts would inevitably begin don't react, don't let them get to you but sure enough, when his son was a teenager, in the late '90s, an opponent called him the N-word on the ice. But the homeowner's and the coach's comments were unwelcomed reminders that people were constantly viewing me through the lens of my race -- even when I just wanted to be a home renter, or a hockey player. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. He has a copy of a newspaper article following a game in Rochester, N.Y., that mentions a fan who heard people yelling the N-word at him all night. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. 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. (OHL). 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Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey The sport that Saunders loved so much, the sport he says shaped him into the person he has become, has also broken his heart many times. Do you have a sports website? "People just forget me because I didn't play. Comments are welcome while open. When Saunderswas still a teenager, the family moved back to Quebec, to Chteauguay a town on Montreal's South Shore with a strong hockey tradition. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube 0:00 / 0:44 Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 Disengage 1.53K subscribers Subscribe 947 views 8 years ago Tony McKegney ties the game. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Find out more. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family 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. Transaction information may be incomplete. As of this date, Sue is single. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Saunders says Demers is one of the people who taught him the work ethic and discipline that carried him until he lost his enthusiasm for the game. "I was incredulous. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. ST. LOUIS (AP) _ If not for an early twist of fate, Tony McKegney would probably not be plying his talents in a sport that is essentially all white. TM: I heard some stories about the tough guys like George Laraque, Peter Worrell and Donald Brashear, and apparently it was absolutely brutal for those guys in Quebec. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. One was Saunders. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. But I cherish everything about that goal that found my stick in the last minute of the last game of my 1987-88 season with the St. Louis Blues. In Tony's second stint in Quebec, he played in 98 games for the team until January 29, 1991 when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jacques Cloutier. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. 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. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. Tony McKegney Tells His Story of How He Came to Buffalo | Sabres Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. It is the 10th NHL season for McKegney, who will be 30 on Feb. 15, and one that he would like to make his best. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Following his time in Buffalo, he spent two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, then made stops in Minnesota (North Stars), New York (Rangers), St. Louis and Detroit before finding his way back to Quebec. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. He says he has moved on. 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. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. SN: Given what you went through in your career, does it make it tougher to hear stories of the abuse faced by players who came after you? Buy his book. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. McKegney was 20, playing junior hockey for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey Association, when the Buffalo Sabres made him their second-round choice in the 1978 draft. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. (approx 1 - 2 per week). Enter Search Term. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. Tony McKegney. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Season Players Videos. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. 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. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. All Rights Reserved. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. That's the biggest compliment for me.". He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. I didnt talk to many people about it. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada.
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