When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. . We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. '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. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Youre a great player. 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; McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Find out more. That's how good he was.". Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. 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. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Hes won Stanley Cups.. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. I just felt defeated," he said. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. "I was incredulous. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. 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. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". 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. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. 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. 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. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. He has three 30-goal seasons. They were there for me for the most part. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. 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 tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. I was too timid to talk to a girl. Hes been an All-Star. 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. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Data Provided By He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. As of this date, Sue is single. I was scared to say a peep in class. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. All rights reserved. "People just forget me because I didn't play. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. All Rights Reserved. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com 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. Saunders decided that was it. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. 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. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. TM: We never really talked about it much. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. How does that make you feel? He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. Former Buffalo Sabre Tony McKegney charged with violating order of 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. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. He was coaching the Pickering Panthers, a Junior B team, when he suspended four players for breaking a rule and got four replacements from a lower-level team. Transaction information may be incomplete. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. 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. {{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. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Reality doesn't always add up. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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.". 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 player to hit the 40-goal milestone. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. 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. But it wasn't to be. 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. Lightning. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. It's like a catch-22.". Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Want to more about Him? I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. 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. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. 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. Saunders says Demers is one of the people who taught him the work ethic and discipline that carried him until he lost his enthusiasm for the game. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. But he was reassigned to the minors. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Enter your email address to get a new one. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. SN: Given what you went through in your career, does it make it tougher to hear stories of the abuse faced by players who came after you?

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