Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. 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. 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; Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane on salary cap, Gabe Davis expectations, Damar Hamlin update and more, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Owner of Buffalo CPA firm denies claims of financial, workplace wrongdoing, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to take year off from coaching, Yellow Corp. to close two trucking terminals, Sabres acquire defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom, 14 police agencies break up fights outside Boulevard Mall, Democrats explore blue-collar struggles as brand is 'damaged', Erie County comptroller calls for state to investigate Forest Lawn, Oklahoma RB Eric Gray at the NFL scouting combine, Ohio State C Luke Wypler speaks at the NFL scouting combine, UB players mom sings stirring rendition of national anthem on senior night, Serena Williams says her daughter doesn't like playing tennis. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. Why did you feel like that was necessary? 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. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. All Rights Reserved. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. 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. You sort of never felt like you were different. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. All rights reserved. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. But on the. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. 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. I didnt talk to many people about it. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. It was never published. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. That's how good he was.". 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 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 left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). 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. Your existing password has not been changed. Hes won Stanley Cups.. 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. 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. It barely made it over the line. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel 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. 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. But it wasn't to be. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. 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. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. Go beyond the basics. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Hes been an All-Star. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. TM: It just made me want to be better. (OHL). Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. 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. 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. Do you have a sports website? His NHL career ended with nine games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1990-91, but he went on to play for the Canadian National Team, overseas in Italy with Varese HC and in the IHL with the San Diego Gulls before hanging up the skates in 1993. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Position: LW Shoots: Left. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. They're too neat; too objective. of 1 All rights reserved. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. 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. 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. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Search instead in Creative? He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. 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. 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. 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. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. 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. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. (approx 1 - 2 per week). All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. But he was reassigned to the minors. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. 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. 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. 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. '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. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. 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. You reached out to him afterwards. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. I went to [Daley] and said, Hey, how are you doing and how are you feeling? I just wanted to reach out and say, Been there, just keep at it. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! 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. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. 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). BIOGRAPHY. Tony McKegney All Rights Reserved. 2023 Getty Images. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. by The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. "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.". the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. They were around five and six years old. 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. Tony was born on February 15, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec.. Tony is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a Ice Hockey. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. Odds & lines subject to change. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. 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. Saunders decided that was it. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. 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. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. He has three 30-goal seasons. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. 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. "I got a lot of feedback from people in Canada that they were accepted in the schoolyard or outdoor rink because they could point to me as being a person of color playing in the National Hockey League. 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. Enter your email address to get a new one. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Lightning. They were there for me for the most part. "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. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. 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. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. He paved the way for me. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Data Provided By Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. 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. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. I just felt defeated," he said. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. 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. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. 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 family https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images . 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. TM: We never really talked about it much. 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. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Lightning. Find out more. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. Jonathan freaked out. 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. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. 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. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. 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.