Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. 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. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. 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. {{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. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. TM: I liked all sports. 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. 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.". There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . 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. Tony McKegney has a great family story - Kincardine Independent Your existing password has not been changed. 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. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. 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. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Sue G McKegney, 63 - Buffalo, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records - MyLife More Tony McKegney videos. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. 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. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Former Buffalo Sabre Tony McKegney charged with violating order of There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. There was nothing special about the goal. 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. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. 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. Search instead in Creative? Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. Enter Search Term. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago In fact, I think their parents were thinking about saying, Look, why dont you just go play soccer, because it was so bad as far as the remarks. It was never published. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. 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. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Lightning. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL 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. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. 2023 Getty Images. Jarome Iginla. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. 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. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Before Jarome was an NHL superstar and represented Canada in three Olympics, he was just like every other Canadian kid playing ball hockey in the school yard -- except he stood out for looking different than the 'typical' hockey player. He 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. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. 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. Tony McKegney 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. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects 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. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. He says he has moved on. Position: LW Shoots: Left. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. "One of the nicest things I hear from young people is they felt because I was there playing they felt they could be accepted in hockey," McKegney told The Buffalo News in 2017. The focus was just on playing hockey. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. 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. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. 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. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. 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). Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. All Rights Reserved. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). 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. Boards and the whole thing. Tony McKegney. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. "It was just time. His supporters created a fan club. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". Tony McKegney | NHL Wiki | Fandom Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets 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. 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. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. All rights reserved. He played in Detroit for only 14 games before being traded back to the Quebec Nordiques on December 4, 1989 in exchange for Robert Picard and Greg Adams. Brother: Ian McKegney Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. So Bassin gave him that chance. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. 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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. 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. You reached out to him afterwards. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) I was at a Queens University hockey game. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? Why did you feel like that was necessary? Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Go beyond the basics. He is 64 years old. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". The judge ordered McKegney, while on probation, to complete all assessments, counselling and treatments directed by his probation supervisor to deal with issues arising from domestic. Youre a great player. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. But on the. 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; I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. 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. TM: Everything. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. of 1 The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. 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. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard
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