tony mckegney family

Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Tony McKegney Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Year By Year Fight Totals. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. 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. Tony McKegney. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. "It was just time. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). 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. 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. It's like a catch-22.". Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. All rights reserved. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. All Rights Reserved. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? We celebrate Willie ORee, the first black player in the NHL, and maybe mention Mike Marson, who was the second, then the conversation shifts all the way to the unprecedented diversity we see in the game today. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. by Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. 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. 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. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. 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). How does that make you feel? I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. Lightning. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. 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; 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. 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. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Please contact us. I just felt defeated," he said. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. 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? Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. "I was incredulous. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. Want to more about Him? All rights reserved. That's the biggest compliment for me.". Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. Or write about sports? - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. 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. They're too neat; too objective. 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. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Enter Search Term. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. I ignored that coach, of course. 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 signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association, but that news generated a great deal of hate mail, etc., in the South. 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. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Saunders decided that was it. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". 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. It was never published. Tony McKegney. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Jonathan freaked out. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Saunders says it's tremendous. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. 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. 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. Enter Search Term. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Hes had the most success. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. 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. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. All rights reserved. As of this date, Sue is single. 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. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. 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. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? That's how good he was.". It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. I take my hat off to Grant. 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. 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. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. Data Provided By 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? You have permission to edit this article. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. 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. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. 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. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. 'I loved the game, but the game didn't love me': How hockey shaped one of NHL's first black players on and off the ice | CBC News Loaded. 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 *} Keep reading with unlimited digital access. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, 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). He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. 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. 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Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. 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. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. 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. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. Search instead in Creative? Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. 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. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He paved the way for me. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Transaction information may be incomplete. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). '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. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. It's not the 40 goals I scored. He was coaching the Pickering Panthers, a Junior B team, when he suspended four players for breaking a rule and got four replacements from a lower-level team. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. He says he has moved on. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. (OHL). Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career Join our linker program. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. 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. - Improve your search rank We only use official stats. And it wasn't hard to find a different place to live in St. Louis, which is a wonderful city that I've always enjoyed. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Enter your email address to get a new one. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. 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. 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. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. TM: I liked all sports. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. 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. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? 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. of 1 Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news.

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