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. Im sure it affected me. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago It was never published. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Join our linker program. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. Buy his book. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Tony McKegney spoke about his experience being one of the few black players in the NHL and how the league has progressed since his playing days. 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. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. 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. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. 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. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' 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. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Sorry we could not verify that email address. Tony McKegney - QuantHockey And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. To me, there is no better example of such a player than Tony McKegney, who played 13 seasons in the NHL and was the first star of colour. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. (OHL). (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. (approx 1 - 2 per week). Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney Its basically black children. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Youre going to do well in the NHL. I just praised him, knowing that he was a great player and he was going to play in the NHL for a long time. Some may find that number low. He still remembers, almost 50 years later, the smile on Saunders's face when he was told he wasn't going back to his old team. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Collect, curate and comment on your files. All rights reserved. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. 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. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. He says he has moved on. 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. 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. We use cookies to improve your experience. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. You sort of never felt like you were different. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Lightning. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. 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. That year, he also played against a team from Birmingham, Ala. His first game there, team executives told him he might be shot, so he went into the arena with extra protection. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Transaction information may be incomplete. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Enter Search Term. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. TM: Its wonderful. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Tony played for the Buffalo Sabres for 5 years until June 8, 1983 when he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques along with Andre Savard, Jean-Francois Sauve and Buffalo's third-round choice in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Real Cloutier and Quebec's first-round pick in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. Tony McKegney Stats and News | NHL.com Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. As part of the NHL's celebration of Black History Month, NHL.com will highlight great moments and important figures in black hockey history each day throughout February. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? We present them here for purely educational purposes. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. 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. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. 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. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. 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. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. 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. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. Search instead in Creative? tony mckegney family I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". 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. So Bassin gave him that chance. One of his greatest disappointments is not being included in conversations about the first black NHL hockey players, but he insists he feels no animosity. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. 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. I just tried to shut everything else out. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. You learn that what matters most is their work ethic, their commitment, their passion, their personality, maybe their sense of humor -- certainly not the way they look. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. SN: When you were playing hockey as youngster, there werent many black faces for you to see when you watched NHL games on Saturday nights. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. "I was incredulous. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. 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. His NHL career ended with nine games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1990-91, but he went on to play for the Canadian National Team, overseas in Italy with Varese HC and in the IHL with the San Diego Gulls before hanging up the skates in 1993. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. The focus was just on playing hockey. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. They're too neat; too objective. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. As of this date, Sue is single. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Your existing password has not been changed. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. His supporters created a fan club. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Please contact us. 20 Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images All News Archival Browse 20 sabres tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Reality doesn't always add up. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. He is 64 years old. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: TM: Everything. by The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. 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. 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Youre a great player. So, I reached out. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. After scoring eight goals in 52 games as a rookie in 1978-79, he scored 23 in his second NHL season 37 in 1980-81. 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. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. TM: It just made me want to be better. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. 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. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Tony McKegney - Net Worth February 2023, Salary, Age, Siblings, Bio Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. And it wasn't hard to find a different place to live in St. Louis, which is a wonderful city that I've always enjoyed. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. 82 Tony Mckegney Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. 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. McKegney, Tony 1958- | Encyclopedia.com Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. Enter Search Term. 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. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career An oddity on the ice - CBC
- EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) 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. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. All rights reserved. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. 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. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. 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). 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. 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. Hes been an All-Star. He is not dating anyone. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. There was nothing special about the goal. All Rights Reserved. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. 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. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . All Rights Reserved. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. 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. He has three 30-goal seasons. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. "It was just time. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Black History Month essay: Tony McKegney | NHL.com Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Former Sabres player charged for violating order of protection After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. 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. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane on salary cap, Gabe Davis expectations, Damar Hamlin update and more, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Owner of Buffalo CPA firm denies claims of financial, workplace wrongdoing, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to take year off from coaching, Yellow Corp. to close two trucking terminals, Sabres acquire defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom, 14 police agencies break up fights outside Boulevard Mall, Democrats explore blue-collar struggles as brand is 'damaged', Erie County comptroller calls for state to investigate Forest Lawn, Oklahoma RB Eric Gray at the NFL scouting combine, Ohio State C Luke Wypler speaks at the NFL scouting combine, UB players mom sings stirring rendition of national anthem on senior night, Serena Williams says her daughter doesn't like playing tennis. Jarome Iginla. TM: No, not really. Enter your email address to get a new one. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Jets on Sportsnet, Marchment, Pavelski end droughts as Stars dominate Avalanche, Cooper on benching Stamkos, Kucherov, Point: 'Weren't giving us the best chance to win', Bertuzzi sets up goal, Bruins stretch winning-streak in win over Rangers, Lightning fall to Sabres, bench Kucherov, Stamkos, Point for third period, {* backButton *}