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. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. He played in St. Louis for two years. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. TM: I liked all sports. 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. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. Data Provided By Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. 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. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. He paved the way for me. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Tony played for the Buffalo Sabres for 5 years until June 8, 1983 when he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques along with Andre Savard, Jean-Francois Sauve and Buffalo's third-round choice in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Real Cloutier and Quebec's first-round pick in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. Some may find that number low. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. 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. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. 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. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. I take my hat off to Grant. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. (approx 1 - 2 per week). McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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). If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. Join our linker program. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. 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? He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. 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. 1989-1990 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1987-1988 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (4) 1986-1987 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1985-1986 Postseason Fight Card NHL (2) 1983-1984 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. 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. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. "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. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. But the homeowner's and the coach's comments were unwelcomed reminders that people were constantly viewing me through the lens of my race -- even when I just wanted to be a home renter, or a hockey player. 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. 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. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. He has three 30-goal seasons. 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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. Its basically black children. I just tried to shut everything else out. 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. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. 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. We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. It's like a catch-22.". Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. '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 was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. After playing in 64 games for the Rangers, Tony was traded to the St. Louis Blues on May 28, 1987 along with Rob Whistle in exchange for Bruce Bell and future considerations. 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. You have permission to edit this article. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Carbonneau, a Hall of Famer who played and coached for the Canadiens and now works as an analyst, remembers Saunders as an honest player and hard worker someone who could do pretty much anything on the ice and served as a veteran presence on the team. 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. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. It's not the 40 goals I scored. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. 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. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". He is not dating anyone. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? 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. 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. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. 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 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. Comments are welcome while open. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. 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. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. 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. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. 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. Do you have a blog? I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Or write about sports? Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. There was nothing special about the goal. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. So, I reached out. 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. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) 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. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. 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. 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. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. All rights reserved. by "It was just time. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. I just felt defeated," he said. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. 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. 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. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. 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. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. 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. 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 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). Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. "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. Lightning. 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 said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. 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. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. 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. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. 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. 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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. But it wasn't to be. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. The key is for him to keep working.. 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; If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Year By Year Fight Totals. You sort of never felt like you were different. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. It was never published. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks.
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