Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. 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. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. He says he has moved on. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Tony McKegney - Net Worth February 2023, Salary, Age, Siblings, Bio Complete player biography and stats. 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. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I take my hat off to Grant. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. I just felt defeated," he said. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. 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 has a great family story - Kincardine Independent 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. 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. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? 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; McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Jarome Iginla. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. 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. 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. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Please contact us. The focus was just on playing hockey. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 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. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. 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. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane on salary cap, Gabe Davis expectations, Damar Hamlin update and more, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Owner of Buffalo CPA firm denies claims of financial, workplace wrongdoing, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to take year off from coaching, Yellow Corp. to close two trucking terminals, Sabres acquire defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom, 14 police agencies break up fights outside Boulevard Mall, Democrats explore blue-collar struggles as brand is 'damaged', Erie County comptroller calls for state to investigate Forest Lawn, Oklahoma RB Eric Gray at the NFL scouting combine, Ohio State C Luke Wypler speaks at the NFL scouting combine, UB players mom sings stirring rendition of national anthem on senior night, Serena Williams says her daughter doesn't like playing tennis. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. 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. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. 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. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. 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. Or write about sports? Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. Comments are welcome while open. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. It's like a catch-22.". of 1 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. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Brother: Ian McKegney I was too timid to talk to a girl. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. All rights reserved. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. Tony McKegney | NHL Wiki | Fandom One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. He got out of his contract, went back to Michigan and started playing for the Kalamazoo Wings, an International Hockey League team, while establishing himself at Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? All rights reserved. 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. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. 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? My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. Reality doesn't always add up. TM: It just made me want to be better. Jonathan freaked out. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. ST. LOUIS (AP) _ If not for an early twist of fate, Tony McKegney would probably not be plying his talents in a sport that is essentially all white. Economics and demographics - there are far fewer blacks in his native Canada than in the United States - still keep blacks from following him to the pro ranks. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' 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. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). 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. Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. He has three 30-goal seasons. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. 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. Lightning. Black History Month essay: Tony McKegney | NHL.com {{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. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. 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. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. An oddity on the ice - CBC The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. I ignored that coach, of course. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. by 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. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. One was Saunders. 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. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. 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. Lightning. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. He played in St. Louis for two years. I was at a Queens University hockey game. 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. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. They had talks about what to do when the racist taunts would inevitably begin don't react, don't let them get to you but sure enough, when his son was a teenager, in the late '90s, an opponent called him the N-word on the ice. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Former Buffalo Sabre Tony McKegney charged with violating order of We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. We present them here for purely educational purposes. '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. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. 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. Search instead in Creative? Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Saunders says it's tremendous. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Tony McKegney | Ice Hockey Wiki | Fandom It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. 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. 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) To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. That's how good he was.". But on the. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. 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. 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. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. All Rights Reserved. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. 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. 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. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Why did you feel like that was necessary? We only use official stats. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. 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. 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. Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL | AP News They were around five and six years old. 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. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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