As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. 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. 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. I know there werent very many [black players]. All Rights Reserved. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. {{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. They were around five and six years old. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. (OHL). 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. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. 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). These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. 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. 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. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. - Improve your search rank When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. 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. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. But on the. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Tony McKegney. So, I reached out. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. For more, check out this Q&A with McKegney & Sportsnet: While its we celebrate the historic achievements of Black players throughout Sabres history, its equally important to celebrate the Black players in the NHL today, including several with current or former ties to the Buffalo Sabres organization. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. Hes won Stanley Cups.. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Please contact us. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. 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. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. 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 was scared to say a peep in class. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and well show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. "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 ignored that coach, of course. It made me angry, made me sad. You have permission to edit this article. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. 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. In retrospect, I can now see how it was an important milestone for people who look like me: No Black player had ever scored 40 goals in a season not until that game against Winnipeg, where a little chip-in ended up making history. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. 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. 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. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. 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 sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. They were there for me for the most part. He was also able to open doors and create a level of acceptance for young black players who could point to him and his contemporaries as successes. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. 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. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. 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. 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. Complete player biography and stats. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. He paved the way for me. "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. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. 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. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. 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. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Jonathan freaked out. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. More Tony McKegney videos. All Rights Reserved. We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. All rights reserved. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. TM: Everything. 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.". 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. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. He has three 30-goal seasons. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. 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. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? I was too timid to talk to a girl. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Boards and the whole thing. 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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. We didn't recognize that password reset code. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. '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. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. He is 64 years old. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". 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. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. Tony McKegney 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. 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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Buy his book. 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. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. 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 a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. "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. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Tony McKegney. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. "People just forget me because I didn't play. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. Gambling problem? There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Im sure it affected me. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. . TM: I liked all sports. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? 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. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. 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. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. 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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.
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