He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. All rights reserved. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. 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. 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. And I'll always be proud of the 40-goal season I had in 1987-88, the wonderful camaraderie of that Blues team, and the little chip-in that somehow found its way into the net. 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. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. 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. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. 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. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' Enter Search Term. 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. As of this date, Sue is single. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. 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. 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) NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Do you have a sports website? Boards and the whole thing. Position: LW Shoots: Left. 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 selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. They were there for me for the most part. 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. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. More Tony McKegney videos. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. The key is for him to keep working.. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. They were around five and six years old. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. "I was incredulous. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. So, I reached out. 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.". His supporters created a fan club. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family TM: It just made me want to be better. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. tony mckegney family Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. 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. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 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. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. Enter your email address to get a new one. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. 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. 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 think for us growing and trying to make it into the NHL, guys like [Bernie], who help you and calm you at the right time, it was huge.". I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. 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). Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Complete player biography and stats. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. 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. Things just felt right that year. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. Saunders says it's tremendous. 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. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. 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 1978-79 until 1990-91. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. He played in Detroit for only 14 games before being traded back to the Quebec Nordiques on December 4, 1989 in exchange for Robert Picard and Greg Adams. 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. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Hes been an All-Star. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, City mourns Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno as investigation into fatal fire launches, Buffalo firefighter makes 'ultimate sacrifice' in blaze that may have sparked backdraft, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Vandal damages 'brokenhearted' Russell Salvatore's tribute park in Lancaster, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. TM: Everything. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. I take my hat off to Grant. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. '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. One was Saunders. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Gambling problem? Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Please contact us. All Rights Reserved. He played in St. Louis for two years. Or write about sports? He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Lightning. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. Find out more. 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. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. Im sure it affected me. His father eventually returned to Nigeria, and when Tony was a year old, he was adopted by the McKegneys, a white couple that lived in Sarnia, Ontario. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records The Nordiques didn't have a farm team that year, so he was sent to play for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, one of the Montreal Canadiens' farm teams. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? SN: Trevor was able to persevere. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL - Improve your search rank 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 said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. 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. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. Join our linker program. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The focus was just on playing hockey. Do you have a blog? 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. Enter Search Term. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. 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. Some may find that number low. 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. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. 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. 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. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. It made me angry, made me sad. I was at a Queens University hockey game. You reached out to him afterwards. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. 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. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago Call 1-800-GAMBLER. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. It barely made it over the line. Odds & lines subject to change. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. 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. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Hes had the most success. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. ago] Height 6.01 -- Weight 200 [185 cm/91 kg] Drafted by Buffalo Sabres - round 2 #32 overall 1978 NHL Amateur Draft Regular Season Playoffs; (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. You have permission to edit this article. But it wasn't to be. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. We use cookies to improve your experience. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Former Sabres player charged for violating order of protection I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.".
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