But he was reassigned to the minors. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. 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. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. 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. I didnt talk to many people about it. "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. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel 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. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Enter Search Term. 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. 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. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. 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. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. 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). It's not the 40 goals I scored. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights 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. Never fully comfortable: Maple Leafs Kerfoot and the trade he dodged, Canucks commit to re-tooling over re-building with Hronek addition, On a career heater, Nugent-Hopkins four-point night helps Oilers ground Jets. 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. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. 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. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Lightning. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. 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. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. Some may find that number low. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. I know there werent very many [black players]. Find out more. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. BIOGRAPHY. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. I was scared to say a peep in class. Tony McKegney - QuantHockey TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. He played in St. Louis for two years. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. 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 could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. 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. 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. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. One was Saunders. 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. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Transaction information may be incomplete. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. 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. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) "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. 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. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Reality doesn't always add up. 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? 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. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. We present them here for purely educational purposes. I was at a Queens University hockey game. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. You reached out to him afterwards. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. How does that make you feel? He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. 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. 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. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. 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. Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records 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. By midseason, people started to notice. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. 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. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. 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. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. TM: I heard some stories about the tough guys like George Laraque, Peter Worrell and Donald Brashear, and apparently it was absolutely brutal for those guys in Quebec. 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. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. 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. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. 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. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. 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. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck.
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