SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. 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. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. I was scared to say a peep in class. 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. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. So Bassin gave him that chance. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Enter Search Term. His supporters created a fan club. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. 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 *} 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. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. 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. Reality doesn't always add up. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! 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. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? They were around five and six years old. They were there for me for the most part. 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. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. He paved the way for me. 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. Tony McKegney. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. 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. 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. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) But it wasn't to be. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. Data Provided By 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. At the age of 20, Tony signed a contract with the now defunct World Hockey Associations (WHA) team in Birmingham, Alabama only to see the owner illegally renege on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for having added a black player to its roster. 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? He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. "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. It made me angry, made me sad. Tony McKegney is 64 years old today because Tony's birthday is on 02/15/1958.Tony McKegney currently lives in East Amherst, NY; in the past Tony has also lived in Saint Louis MO, Detroit MI and Buffalo NY.Tony also answers to Tony S Mckegney, Anthony S Mckegney and Anthony F Mckegney, and perhaps a couple of other names. 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. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. (OHL). People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. One was Saunders. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. Go beyond the basics. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. 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. 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. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. 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. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. . Jonathan freaked out. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. 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. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. Youre a great player. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. 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. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. I know there werent very many [black players]. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. 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. 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. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. 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. 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. Saunders decided that was it. All Rights Reserved. He says he has moved on. 20 Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images All News Archival Browse 20 sabres tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. So, I reached out. Im sure it affected me. Join our linker program. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. 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. I just felt defeated," he said. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! 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. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. 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. 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). Comments are welcome while open. Lightning. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. 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. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. It's not the 40 goals I scored. 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. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. (approx 1 - 2 per week). * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Why did you feel like that was necessary? Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. 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. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. All rights reserved. There was nothing special about the goal. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. 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. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. {{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. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . Hes won Stanley Cups.. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. 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. 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. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. by 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. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. He is 64 years old. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. 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. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. But he was reassigned to the minors. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. 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. 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. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. '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. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. 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. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. 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. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . 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. 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. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. 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. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. 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 . "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. That's how good he was.". His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. I didnt talk to many people about it. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. 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's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Lightning. 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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. TM: No, not really. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. "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.". Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. 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. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). We only use official stats. 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. 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. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. I was at a Queens University hockey game. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. We were all set to move, until the homeowner told us there was a problem: They didn't want to rent to us once they found out we were a biracial couple. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 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. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. It was never published. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. 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. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. TM: It just made me want to be better. 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. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers.
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