Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. They're too neat; too objective. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. How does that make you feel? He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. 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. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. (approx 1 - 2 per week). All rights reserved. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. It made me angry, made me sad. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. By midseason, people started to notice. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL 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. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. Saunders decided that was it. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Youre a great player. 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 is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. Economics and demographics - there are far fewer blacks in his native Canada than in the United States - still keep blacks from following him to the pro ranks. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. . Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. 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. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. 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 had 320 goals over his career. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Not a lot from opposing, players, but more so from fans, that they just couldnt handle the fact that the pure white sport, was being dominated by a black kid and that was me. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. There was nothing special about the goal. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. 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. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. He is 64 years old. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. McKegney would remain with the Sabres through the 1982-83 season before enjoying a lengthy NHL career that took him across the United States and into Canada. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. I was scared to say a peep in class. 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. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. 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 remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. 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. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. Data Provided By 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 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. 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. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. The key is for him to keep working.. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. 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. 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. 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. 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). McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. It barely made it over the line. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. 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. 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 . TM: Its wonderful. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. TM: It just made me want to be better. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. 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? Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Enter your email address to get a new one. 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 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. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. I take my hat off to Grant. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . Please contact us. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Im sure it affected me. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Hes been an All-Star. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. 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. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. Saunders says it's tremendous. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. 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. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. I just felt defeated," he said. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. I know there werent very many [black players]. Position: LW Shoots: Left. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". 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. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. 1989-1990 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1987-1988 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (4) 1986-1987 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1985-1986 Postseason Fight Card NHL (2) 1983-1984 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. 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. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. 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. Do you have a blog? 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. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. "I think for us growing and trying to make it into the NHL, guys like [Bernie], who help you and calm you at the right time, it was huge.". "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. Do you have a sports website? All Rights Reserved. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. I was at a Queens University hockey game. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. 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. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Transaction information may be incomplete. Hes won Stanley Cups.. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube 0:00 / 0:44 Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 Disengage 1.53K subscribers Subscribe 947 views 8 years ago Tony McKegney ties the game. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). All Rights Reserved. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. 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. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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 *} 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. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. 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). 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. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Lightning. 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. The subtext of the situation was clear: Because I'm a Black man, there were certain things the homeowner felt like I couldn't or shouldn't do. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. 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. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. We use cookies to improve your experience. Tony McKegney. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. Tony McKegney. So Bassin gave him that chance. 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. 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. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. 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. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. 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. Go beyond the basics. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. 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. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. 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.
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