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. - Improve your search rank 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. TM: We never really talked about it much. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. It takes time to grow a sport, he says, and now young black kids have something he didn't: the opportunity to play the game they love with people who look like them, and to see more than one black person playing it at the highest level. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Saunders says it's tremendous. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. All Rights Reserved. He signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association, but that news generated a great deal of hate mail, etc., in the South. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. "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. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. Tony McKegney Stats and News | NHL.com Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Find out more. 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. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Odds & lines subject to change. {{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. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. 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; Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. I just felt defeated," he said. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. 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. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family After completing the 1990-91 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tony would spend a season in Italy with HC Varese as well as three games with the Canadian National Team. So, I reached out. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. tony mckegney family https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images . At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. Tony McKegney - QuantHockey More Tony McKegney videos. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. You sort of never felt like you were different. Join our linker program. Search instead in Creative? The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. 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. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Check out the Black Girl Hockey Club, a non-profit organization that focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black women, their family, friends and allies. But while Saunders was playing the role of helping others, he believes the Habs didn't really have any incentive to help him, since the team had its own players to develop. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. "People just forget me because I didn't play. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. 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. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. Black History Month essay: Tony McKegney | NHL.com 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. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. All Rights Reserved. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. 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. 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? 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. Tony McKegney Tells His Story of How He Came to Buffalo | Sabres 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 it wasn't to be. Lightning. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! Go beyond the basics. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. 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. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. In fact, I didn't play against another Black hockey player for nearly 18 years -- when Ray Neufeld, Grant Fuhr, and I were all active in the League. "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.". Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. 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. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Buy his book. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. That's how good he was.". And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. 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. Do you have a sports website? Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Boards and the whole thing. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade 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. 2023 Getty Images. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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.". TM: I liked all sports. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Anytime I faced adversity, I said, Okay, Im going to put a couple of pucks in the net today for sure. And I was just going to show everybody that I was as good or better than them. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. 'I loved the game, but the game didn't love me': How hockey shaped one of NHL's first black players on and off the ice | CBC News Loaded. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. So Bassin gave him that chance. of 1 Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. Hes been an All-Star. Gambling problem? 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. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. 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. '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. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. 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. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com You have permission to edit this article. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. All rights reserved. Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard All rights reserved. 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. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. 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. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. 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. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Lightning. 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. 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. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Want to more about Him? Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. His supporters created a fan club. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets "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. They were around five and six years old. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Its basically black children. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. 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? Jarome Iginla. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. He played in St. Louis for two years. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. He paved the way for me. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. Transaction information may be incomplete. 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. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. I ignored that coach, of course. 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. 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. 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 *} 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL | AP News I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. (approx 1 - 2 per week). He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). All rights reserved. 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. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of He has three 30-goal seasons. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Please contact us. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. 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. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! 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 relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. 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. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. You reached out to him afterwards.

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