SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? While in Minnesota, Tony played for the organization for 3 years until November 13, 1986 when he was traded to the New York Rangers along with Curt Giles and Minnesota's second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bob Brooke and Minnesota's fourth-round choice in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. He has three 30-goal seasons. Gambling problem? Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. And I just thought to myself, What are they doing out there? And I couldnt wait to go out there and join them at a year-and-a-half. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. "One of the nicest things I hear from young people is they felt because I was there playing they felt they could be accepted in hockey," McKegney told The Buffalo News in 2017. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Its basically black children. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights We celebrate Willie ORee, the first black player in the NHL, and maybe mention Mike Marson, who was the second, then the conversation shifts all the way to the unprecedented diversity we see in the game today. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Lightning. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". 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 *} He was coaching the Pickering Panthers, a Junior B team, when he suspended four players for breaking a rule and got four replacements from a lower-level team. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. It takes time to grow a sport, he says, and now young black kids have something he didn't: the opportunity to play the game they love with people who look like them, and to see more than one black person playing it at the highest level. Data Provided By He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. 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. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. '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. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Why did you feel like that was necessary? You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Never fully comfortable: Maple Leafs Kerfoot and the trade he dodged, Canucks commit to re-tooling over re-building with Hronek addition, On a career heater, Nugent-Hopkins four-point night helps Oilers ground Jets. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Transaction information may be incomplete. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. I always said that the game is tough enough as it is just trying to survive and make it outside of having that stuff on the sidelines. It saddens me to hear the accounts of the current crop of Black players and other players of color that are still facing the same obstacles and ugly behavior that I encountered when I was their age. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. 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. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. tony mckegney family Join our linker program. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. 82 Tony Mckegney Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. But on the. Do you have a sports website? Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. 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. Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. In retrospect, I can now see how it was an important milestone for people who look like me: No Black player had ever scored 40 goals in a season not until that game against Winnipeg, where a little chip-in ended up making history. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. I was scared to say a peep in class. 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. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. 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) To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. I ignored that coach, of course. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. 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Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. That's how good he was.". So, for me, there were just so many good influences. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. I didnt talk to many people about it. Two years ago, when he scored 15 times and had 25 assists, was the only season he scored fewer than 23 goals or compiled fewer than 45 points. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . You sort of never felt like you were different. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. But by capitalizing on circumstances known by few, he has become an example for blacks who would aspire to playing in the National Hockey League. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. 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. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. 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. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. But while Saunders was playing the role of helping others, he believes the Habs didn't really have any incentive to help him, since the team had its own players to develop. 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. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. I just tried to shut everything else out. I take my hat off to Grant. 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. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Saunders decided that was it. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. Even now, when I tell the story of the 1987-1988 season, I use a lot of numbers to explain why the season turned out so special. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Odds & lines subject to change. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. 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. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". 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. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Enter Search Term. Want to more about Him? 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. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. The focus was just on playing hockey. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. All Rights Reserved. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. 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. 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. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. They were there for me for the most part. It barely made it over the line. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. All rights reserved. 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. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. 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). But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. 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. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. 'I loved the game, but the game didn't love me': How hockey shaped one of NHL's first black players on and off the ice | CBC News Loaded. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. 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. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 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. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . 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 was too timid to talk to a girl. We use cookies to improve your experience. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. 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. 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? We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Comments are welcome while open. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Year By Year Fight Totals. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey 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. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. But he was reassigned to the minors. He paved the way for me. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. "I was incredulous. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. That is a great start and I am looking forward to rooting for the Black players drafted in the past few years who are going to carry on this legacy. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Reality doesn't always add up. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Ian, who had been a star with the Sarnia Legionnaires before moving on to the pros. I just felt defeated," 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 player to hit the 40-goal milestone. 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. 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. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Submit changes (incorrect DOB, missing stats, incorrect stats, social media links etc) using a web form and we will review your update request within 24 hours and update accordingly. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. So Bassin gave him that chance. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. There was nothing special about the goal. 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. We only use official stats. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL.

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