(approx 1 - 2 per week). I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. TM: Everything. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. 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. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. Before Jarome was an NHL superstar and represented Canada in three Olympics, he was just like every other Canadian kid playing ball hockey in the school yard -- except he stood out for looking different than the 'typical' hockey player. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. 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? 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. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". "I was incredulous. 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. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts 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. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' 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. 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. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. McKegney recalls no special obstacles for him or his two adoptive brothers, who are also black, as they were growing up with a racially mixed family in a city of 50,000. All Rights Reserved. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. 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. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. 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. 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. 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. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com Your existing password has not been changed. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. 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. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. It's not the 40 goals I scored. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. 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. TM: I liked all sports. 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. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. BIOGRAPHY. 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. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Tony McKegney Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Age, Family, Facts and More McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. The next season, his agent Art Kaminsky told him that must have meant the Nordiques wanted to keep him, so he went into training camp intent on making an impression. I was too timid to talk to a girl. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Ian McKegney (who had been a star with the Sarnia Legionnaires before moving on to the pros). Position: LW Shoots: Left. "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. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. 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. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. 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. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. We only use official stats. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. 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. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. 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.". It's like a catch-22.". 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Year By Year Fight Totals. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Some may find that number low. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. 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. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Odds & lines subject to change. 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. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. All rights reserved. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images It made me angry, made me sad. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: "People just forget me because I didn't play. 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. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. 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. But it wasn't to be. 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. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. How does that make you feel? You reached out to him afterwards. TM: No, not really. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Tony McKegney Stats and News | NHL.com Comments are welcome while open. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. 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. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Tony McKegney Tells His Story of How He Came to Buffalo | Sabres Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. 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. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. 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. You sort of never felt like you were different. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. Please contact us. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. 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. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. 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. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. It barely made it over the line. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? 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. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. 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. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. 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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Join our linker program. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. 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. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. 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. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. All Rights Reserved. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. 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. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. "It was just time. 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. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. 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. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. 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). Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. . Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. 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. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. I remember the dedication that my parents put into it when we were younger, driving us to rinks at 7 in the morning, he said. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. of 1 But on the. Reality doesn't always add up. 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. As of this date, Sue is single. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects Lightning. 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. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). I was at a Queens University hockey game. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. 2023 Getty Images. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. I just tried to shut everything else out. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. 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. All rights reserved. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Collect, curate and comment on your files. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Im sure it affected me. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. 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. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 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. So Bassin gave him that chance. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. I take my hat off to Grant. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. (OHL). 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? I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Hes had the most success.