And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. 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. by I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. {{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. 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. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. "It was just time. 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.". Tony McKegney Tells His Story of How He Came to Buffalo | Sabres Join our linker program. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. 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. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. TM: I liked all sports. The focus was just on playing hockey. Sorry we could not verify that email address. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. That's how good he was.". Search instead in Creative? (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. I just felt defeated," he said. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Why did you feel like that was necessary? It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. 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. 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 believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players 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. 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. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia 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. Tony McKegney Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Age, Family, Facts and More 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. Or write about sports? While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. I didnt talk to many people about it. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? Saunders says it's tremendous. Tony McKegney - QuantHockey And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. How does that make you feel? He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. More Tony McKegney videos. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). "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.". 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'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL All rights reserved. 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'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. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. 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. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. 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). Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. 2023 Getty Images. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. BIOGRAPHY. Collect, curate and comment on your files. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. 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. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. It was never published. All Rights Reserved. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Season Players Videos. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. Following his time in Buffalo, he spent two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, then made stops in Minnesota (North Stars), New York (Rangers), St. Louis and Detroit before finding his way back to Quebec. "I was incredulous. Transaction information may be incomplete. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. 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. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. I was scared to say a peep in class. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. (OHL). The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. Hes won Stanley Cups.. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. 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. by . But he was reassigned to the minors. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade 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. 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. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. While in Minnesota, Tony played for the organization for 3 years until November 13, 1986 when he was traded to the New York Rangers along with Curt Giles and Minnesota's second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bob Brooke and Minnesota's fourth-round choice in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. That's the biggest compliment for me.". Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of 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. 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. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Tony McKegney. 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. He still remembers, almost 50 years later, the smile on Saunders's face when he was told he wasn't going back to his old team. 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. 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. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Some may find that number low. 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. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) Gambling problem? 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. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. One was Saunders. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Jonathan freaked out. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney Jets on Sportsnet, Marchment, Pavelski end droughts as Stars dominate Avalanche, Cooper on benching Stamkos, Kucherov, Point: 'Weren't giving us the best chance to win', Bertuzzi sets up goal, Bruins stretch winning-streak in win over Rangers, Lightning fall to Sabres, bench Kucherov, Stamkos, Point for third period, {* backButton *} 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. 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 wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. So Bassin gave him that chance. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? 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.