He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. It's not the 40 goals I scored. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. 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. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. They're too neat; too objective. 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. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. We didn't recognize that password reset code. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. As of this date, Sue is single. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. 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. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. 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. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. I just tried to shut everything else out. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. . I was too timid to talk to a girl. Enter Search Term. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. 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. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Data Provided By Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. One was Saunders. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. 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 197879 until 199091. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Complete player biography and stats. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. "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.". It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. {{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. As part of the NHL's celebration of Black History Month, NHL.com will highlight great moments and important figures in black hockey history each day throughout February. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. So, I reached out. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? 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. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. 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. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 2023 Getty Images. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". In fact, I didn't play against another Black hockey player for nearly 18 years -- when Ray Neufeld, Grant Fuhr, and I were all active in the League. Its basically black children. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. 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. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. All Rights Reserved. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. 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 MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. But it wasn't to be. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. 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. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. 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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Tony McKegney. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? 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. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Tony McKegney. 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 had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. 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; It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. 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 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. 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. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. 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. 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. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. 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. By midseason, people started to notice. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. 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. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. 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. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. 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. Sorry we could not verify that email address. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. 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. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd.
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