Transaction information may be incomplete. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. 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. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. 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. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family].
How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. 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.
Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. 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. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams.
Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets All Rights Reserved. Halls contract with the Bills had expired, although left unanswered is whether the team made an effort to retain him or Hall simply was rea. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go.
Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players 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. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. 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. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. 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. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs.
Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. 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. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. He is not dating anyone. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. After scoring eight goals in 52 games as a rookie in 1978-79, he scored 23 in his second NHL season 37 in 1980-81. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. McKegney would remain with the Sabres through the 1982-83 season before enjoying a lengthy NHL career that took him across the United States and into Canada. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. Jonathan freaked out.
Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. 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. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. of 1 Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. 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. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. 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. 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. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. 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; Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League.
The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. The focus was just on playing hockey. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. 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) All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? I wanted to be as good as my brothers. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. 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. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. 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. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried.
An oddity on the ice - CBC Jarome Iginla. He played in St. Louis for two years. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem.
Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights Tony McKegney He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. So, I reached out. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? To me, there is no better example of such a player than Tony McKegney, who played 13 seasons in the NHL and was the first star of colour. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. 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. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL How does that make you feel? He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. 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. Your existing password has not been changed. 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. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Find out more. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. TM: We never really talked about it much. 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. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. We use cookies to improve your experience. They were there for me for the most part. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Search instead in Creative? All rights reserved.
Tony McKegney has a great family story - Kincardine Independent Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. All Rights Reserved. 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.
Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney - Die By The Blade Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. 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. 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. 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. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. 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. 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.
Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. It's not the 40 goals I scored. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. 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). It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. McKegney recalls no special obstacles for him or his two adoptive brothers, who are also black, as they were growing up with a racially mixed family in a city of 50,000. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. 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. Join our linker program. Its basically black children. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. 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. Tony McKegney. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while.