* 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. 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. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. 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? Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. 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. The subtext of the situation was clear: Because I'm a Black man, there were certain things the homeowner felt like I couldn't or shouldn't do. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. They were around five and six years old. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. 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. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. 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. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL 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. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. 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. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. {{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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Enter Search Term. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Position: LW Shoots: Left. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. We didn't recognize that password reset code. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. 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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. 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. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. Go beyond the basics. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the 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. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Gambling problem? I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. 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's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. 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. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. 20 Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images All News Archival Browse 20 sabres tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. 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. Previously, in the early '80s, one of my team's assistant coaches advised me to start dating a Black woman instead of Sue for similarly ignorant and bigoted reasons. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. 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. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. 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. 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. TM: I heard some stories about the tough guys like George Laraque, Peter Worrell and Donald Brashear, and apparently it was absolutely brutal for those guys in Quebec. That is a great start and I am looking forward to rooting for the Black players drafted in the past few years who are going to carry on this legacy. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Data Provided By I was too timid to talk to a girl. 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. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. "One of the nicest things I hear from young people is they felt because I was there playing they felt they could be accepted in hockey," McKegney told The Buffalo News in 2017. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Do you have a sports website? Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? It was never published. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. We use cookies to improve your experience. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. of 1 Reality doesn't always add up. How does that make you feel? 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 is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. 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. You reached out to him afterwards. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Lightning. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Saunders says it's tremendous. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. 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. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Jarome Iginla. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Enter your email address to get a new one. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. All Rights Reserved. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Transaction information may be incomplete. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! 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. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). They were there for me for the most part. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. 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). Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. Hes won Stanley Cups.. 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 1978-79 until 1990-91. Do you have a blog? "I was incredulous. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. 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. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Find out more. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. 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. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. 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. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 66 games with Kingston of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1976-77 and 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games the following season, when he also played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. "It was just time. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. Brother: Ian McKegney He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. He has three 30-goal seasons. Hes been an All-Star. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? 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 focus was just on playing hockey. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? (approx 1 - 2 per week). The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. 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. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. Enter Search Term. 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. 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. I was scared to say a peep in class. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. 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? Buy his book. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. There was nothing special about the goal. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. By midseason, people started to notice. 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. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! 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.". So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. TM: No, not really. 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. Search instead in Creative? Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. 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. TM: I liked all sports. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Youre going to do well in the NHL. I just praised him, knowing that he was a great player and he was going to play in the NHL for a long time. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? Complete player biography and stats. '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. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. Odds & lines subject to change. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: 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.