When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 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. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. "People just forget me because I didn't play. But on the. 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. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. I probably should have, and I never did that. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. 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. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. So Bassin gave him that chance. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. All Rights Reserved. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. I was at a Queens University hockey game. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. They were around five and six years old. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. 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? Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. I went to [Daley] and said, Hey, how are you doing and how are you feeling? I just wanted to reach out and say, Been there, just keep at it. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. 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. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. 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. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. It's like a catch-22.". McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. The focus was just on playing hockey. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Bailey has appeared in three games with the Canucks this season and was placed on injured reserve on February 12 with an upper-body injury. The key is for him to keep working.. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. All rights reserved. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. 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. 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. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. I just tried to shut everything else out. Reality doesn't always add up. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. "It was just time. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. 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. of 1 We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. 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. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. 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. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. 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. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. Hes been an All-Star. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. You have permission to edit this article. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. I know there werent very many [black players]. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). - Improve your search rank His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. 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. 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. 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. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. I just felt defeated," he said. He has three 30-goal seasons. 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. Jarome Iginla gave me a very nice compliment when he said he felt he was at home on the ice and in the school yard, because he could say, Hey, Tony McKegney, hes playing in the NHL. He felt like he belonged on a hockey rink because I was out there. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. (approx 1 - 2 per week). You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. SN: If you had a chance to talk to the young African-Canadian and African-American kids coming into the game, what would you tell them that you wish youd known? Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. 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. The next day, the other team's coach called to apologize for what had happened, which Saunders found promising a sign that things were changing, albeit slowly. He decided to sign as a free agent with the Nordiques because he felt they would give him the best opportunity to play right away plus, he would be reunited with Demers. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. But it wasn't to be. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. 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. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. All Rights Reserved. Join our linker program. 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. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Brother: Ian McKegney His first encounter with racism happened while he was playing junior hockey after his family moved to Ajax, Ont., during his senior year of high school. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. As of this date, Sue is single. 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. 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. Complete player biography and stats. 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. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Things just felt right that year. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. 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. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. 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. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? More Tony McKegney videos. You sort of never felt like you were different. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Jarome told me that he felt comfortable at the school yard because he could point to me and say, "Look, Tony McKegney's playing in the NHL.". However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. Lightning. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. They were there for me for the most part. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Tony McKegney. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Do you have a sports website? Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . It's not the 40 goals I scored. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? '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. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. That's how good he was.". Go beyond the basics. 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. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . TM: Everything. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) 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. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. 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. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? We present them here for purely educational purposes. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. "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. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. Transaction information may be incomplete. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. 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. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. 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. 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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. He says he has moved on. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. 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. 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. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). 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. 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. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. Find out more. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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) There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. 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. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. All Rights Reserved. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. Enter Search Term. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. Sorry we could not verify that email address. 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. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. BIOGRAPHY. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts.
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