Jarome Iginla gave me a very nice compliment when he said he felt he was at home on the ice and in the school yard, because he could say, Hey, Tony McKegney, hes playing in the NHL. He felt like he belonged on a hockey rink because I was out there. So Bassin gave him that chance. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. I just felt defeated," he said. 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. He played in St. Louis for two years. 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). Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. But on the. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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. That year, he also played against a team from Birmingham, Ala. His first game there, team executives told him he might be shot, so he went into the arena with extra protection. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. I was too timid to talk to a girl. All Rights Reserved. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Hes had the most success. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". All Rights Reserved. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. by 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. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. His supporters created a fan club. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL | AP News McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 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. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Please contact us. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Gambling problem? And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Why did you feel like that was necessary? 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. You have permission to edit this article. TM: I heard some stories about the tough guys like George Laraque, Peter Worrell and Donald Brashear, and apparently it was absolutely brutal for those guys in Quebec. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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.". He says he has moved on. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. McKegney was 20, playing junior hockey for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey Association, when the Buffalo Sabres made him their second-round choice in the 1978 draft. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. 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. Data Provided By If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. 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. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Saunders decided that was it. '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. I just tried to shut everything else out. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. I was scared to say a peep in class. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. All rights reserved. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. It's like a catch-22.". 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 said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade 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). It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. 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. 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. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . INDIANAPOLIS Along with the change in defensive coordinator with Leslie Frazier deciding to "take a step back," Bills General Manager Brando, The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge, Frazier, who turns 64 in April, plans to return to coaching in 2024, the Bills said. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. 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. . Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . 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. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. I ignored that coach, of course. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. 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. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. 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. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. 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. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. Tony McKegney. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. 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. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. 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. How does that make you feel? Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. 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. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Youre a great player. Previously, in the early '80s, one of my team's assistant coaches advised me to start dating a Black woman instead of Sue for similarly ignorant and bigoted reasons. 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. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. As of this date, Sue is single. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. 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. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets 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. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. When submitting content, please abide by our, Hockey Night in Canada: Senators vs. Blue Jackets on Sportsnet, Watch Hockey Night in Canada with Steve Dangle: Oilers vs. 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. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. Brother: Ian McKegney Things just felt right that year. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey.
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