Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? All rights reserved. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. All Rights Reserved. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". That fast-forwarding tends to bypass the magical middle and the stories of many players who felt alone but nonetheless accomplished great things, opening opportunities for those who followed. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. 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. 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. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. When the last road trip started, I thought about how meaningful it would be to end the season with a goal total that was a round number. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com 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. 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. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. They're too neat; too objective. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. Sorry we could not verify that email address. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . 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. 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.". They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. "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. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. I know there werent very many [black players]. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. 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. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Lightning. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. TM: No, not really. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. 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. You reached out to him afterwards. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Or write about sports? McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. Tony McKegney | NHL Wiki | Fandom TM: I just would tell them to persevere. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. 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. 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. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. 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. tony mckegney family I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. 82 Tony Mckegney Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. 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. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. He played in St. Louis for two years. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. Lightning. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) 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. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia Go beyond the basics. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. The Nordiques didn't have a farm team that year, so he was sent to play for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, one of the Montreal Canadiens' farm teams. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. As of this date, Sue is single. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Search instead in Creative? TM: Everything. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard His first encounter with racism happened while he was playing junior hockey after his family moved to Ajax, Ont., during his senior year of high school. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. 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. Enter Search Term. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Reality doesn't always add up. 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. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. All Rights Reserved. More Tony McKegney videos. The key is for him to keep working.. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. They were around five and six years old. 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. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. An oddity on the ice - CBC Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. TM: I liked all sports. TM: Its wonderful. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. 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. 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. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? "I was incredulous. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. 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? I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. 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; Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. 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. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Youre a great player. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. Do you have a sports website? I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. Season Players Videos. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. "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.". Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA.
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