TM: No, not really. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. TM: Everything. Lightning. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. 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. . Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. I was too timid to talk to a girl. How does that make you feel? I just felt defeated," he said. All Rights Reserved. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Find out more. 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? They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. {{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. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? 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. As of this date, Sue is single. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. 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. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. By midseason, people started to notice. During his first stint in Quebec, he played for the team until December 14, 1984 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars along with Bo Berglund in exchange for Brad Maxwell and Brent Ashton. 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; NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. That's how good he was.". NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. 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 always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. At the age of 20, Tony signed a contract with the now defunct World Hockey Associations (WHA) team in Birmingham, Alabama only to see the owner illegally renege on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for having added a black player to its roster. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. There was nothing special about the goal. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. 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. I ignored that coach, of course. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. "I got a lot of feedback from people in Canada that they were accepted in the schoolyard or outdoor rink because they could point to me as being a person of color playing in the National Hockey League. It's like a catch-22.". (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. They were there for me for the most part. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. 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. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. They're too neat; too objective. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. The focus was just on playing hockey. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. 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? I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Transaction information may be incomplete. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. I was at a Queens University hockey game. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. 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. TM: We never really talked about it much. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. 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. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. (OHL). So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. 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. He paved the way for me. All rights reserved. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. We only use official stats. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Check out the Black Girl Hockey Club, a non-profit organization that focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black women, their family, friends and allies. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. It barely made it over the line. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? 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. I went to [Daley] and said, Hey, how are you doing and how are you feeling? I just wanted to reach out and say, Been there, just keep at it. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. "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.". Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. 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. Want to more about Him? 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. 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. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. 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. Gambling problem? McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. 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). But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Enter Search Term. We were all set to move, until the homeowner told us there was a problem: They didn't want to rent to us once they found out we were a biracial couple. All Rights Reserved. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Some may find that number low. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. 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. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? Do you have a sports website? He played in St. Louis for two years. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. "It was just time. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. 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. 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. He says he has moved on. Saunders decided that was it. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Tony McKegney is 64 years old today because Tony's birthday is on 02/15/1958.Tony McKegney currently lives in East Amherst, NY; in the past Tony has also lived in Saint Louis MO, Detroit MI and Buffalo NY.Tony also answers to Tony S Mckegney, Anthony S Mckegney and Anthony F Mckegney, and perhaps a couple of other names. 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. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. 2023 Getty Images. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. 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. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. Bailey has appeared in three games with the Canucks this season and was placed on injured reserve on February 12 with an upper-body injury. 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. 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. Enter your email address to get a new one. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. 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. 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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. 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 . But on the. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. 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The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. We present them here for purely educational purposes. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Boards and the whole thing. 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. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. 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. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) 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. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. 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. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. More Tony McKegney videos. TM: Its wonderful. 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). We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Enter Search Term.