I was at a Queens University hockey game. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. TM: Its wonderful. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Position: LW Shoots: Left. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. How does that make you feel? Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Find out more. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Do you have a sports website? SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 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. 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). Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Tony McKegney It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. You learn that what matters most is their work ethic, their commitment, their passion, their personality, maybe their sense of humor -- certainly not the way they look. 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. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. {{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. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. 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. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. But it wasn't to be. Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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). So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. 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]. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. by John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Please contact us. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. I probably should have, and I never did that. Or write about sports? The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. 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. 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. The next day, the other team's coach called to apologize for what had happened, which Saunders found promising a sign that things were changing, albeit slowly. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. There was nothing special about the goal. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Odds & lines subject to change. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. 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. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. Search instead in Creative? WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". 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. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Things just felt right that year. 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. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". But he was reassigned to the minors. 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. 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. 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. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Its basically black children. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. 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. 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. 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. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. They were around five and six years old. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. It was never published. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. By midseason, people started to notice. All Rights Reserved. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. He played in St. Louis for two years. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? 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. TM: No, not really. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: 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. Enter Search Term. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? 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. I didnt talk to many people about it. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. 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. But the homeowner's and the coach's comments were unwelcomed reminders that people were constantly viewing me through the lens of my race -- even when I just wanted to be a home renter, or a hockey player. Transaction information may be incomplete. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. 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. 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. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. of 1 Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. 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. My mother and father -- who adopted me from an orphanage in Montreal, and who happen to be white -- built a hockey rink in our backyard every winter, where I'd skate with my siblings. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. 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. 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. Sorry we could not verify that email address. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . 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. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets It's like a catch-22.". "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". 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. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) 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. He paved the way for me. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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 . Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Saunders decided that was it. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. 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.

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