Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Go beyond the basics. 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. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Playing hockey at a high level is difficult enough without navigating the pressures of racism in society or figuring out how to respond to the supposed "fan" with a sign that says, "McKegney, grab a basketball" behind the Zamboni entrance. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. 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. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. 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. While in Fredericton, he says the coach told him he may play a couple dozen games at the NHL level, but his main role would be to tutor the other players. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets We reserve the right to close comments at any time. There was nothing special about the goal. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL | AP News Tony McKegney - QuantHockey One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. "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.". People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. We didn't recognize that password reset code. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. '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. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. 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. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Tony McKegney Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Age, Family, Facts and More 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. 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. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family 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. Buy his book. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube 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. Do you have a blog? Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday that former Buffalo Sabres winger Tony McKegney was arraigned before a Buffalo City Court Judge back on. 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. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. Hes won Stanley Cups.. 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. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. Following his time in Buffalo, he spent two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, then made stops in Minnesota (North Stars), New York (Rangers), St. Louis and Detroit before finding his way back to Quebec. 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. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. He played in St. Louis for two years. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia "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. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. How does that make you feel? Hes been an All-Star. 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). And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . Lightning. Things just felt right that year. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. 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. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. 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. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. {{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. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. 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 certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. 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. Brother: Ian McKegney Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. 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. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. 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. 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? Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Its basically black children. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. by Join our linker program. You sort of never felt like you were different. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. When the last road trip started, I thought about how meaningful it would be to end the season with a goal total that was a round number. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. Complete player biography and stats. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard He is not dating anyone. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. 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. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. I take my hat off to Grant. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. For more, check out this Q&A with McKegney & Sportsnet: While its we celebrate the historic achievements of Black players throughout Sabres history, its equally important to celebrate the Black players in the NHL today, including several with current or former ties to the Buffalo Sabres organization. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. I know there werent very many [black players]. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. 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. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. His supporters created a fan club. He paved the way for me. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. 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. Comments are welcome while open. You get to keep that mask on and Im out there for everybody to see. So, I told Grant, jokingly, that I was envious of him. Im sure it affected me. Jonathan freaked out. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? Sorry we could not verify that email address. 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. 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. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all 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. That's the biggest compliment for me.". It made me angry, made me sad. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career 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. TM: No, not really. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. 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 *} Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. 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. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. So Bassin gave him that chance. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. He got out of his contract, went back to Michigan and started playing for the Kalamazoo Wings, an International Hockey League team, while establishing himself at Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. They're too neat; too objective. 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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. They had talks about what to do when the racist taunts would inevitably begin don't react, don't let them get to you but sure enough, when his son was a teenager, in the late '90s, an opponent called him the N-word on the ice. All Rights Reserved. Enter Search Term. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. TM: I liked all sports. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Gambling problem? Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. 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? McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. 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 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. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects We present them here for purely educational purposes. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. 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. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. 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. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. 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. 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. 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. More Tony McKegney videos. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. 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. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. 82 Tony Mckegney Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. 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. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Why did you feel like that was necessary? So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Former Sabres player charged for violating order of protection All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. 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've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. TM: Its wonderful. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Position: LW Shoots: Left. All rights reserved. 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. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Saunders says it's tremendous. BIOGRAPHY. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. After scoring eight goals in 52 games as a rookie in 1978-79, he scored 23 in his second NHL season 37 in 1980-81. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. "Tony McKegney showed me it was possible for someone like me to play in the NHL," future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla said in author Cecil Harris' book, "Breaking The Ice, The Black Experience in Professional Hockey." "He set the example. 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. 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. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. 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