We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Data Provided By I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor 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. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . TM: I liked all sports. 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. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. 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. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. 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. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. Saunders was part of a wave of black players who debuted after Willie O'Ree became the first black player in the National Hockey League in 1958. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Tony McKegney. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. Your existing password has not been changed. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. 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. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. They were around five and six years old. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". After completing the 1990-91 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tony would spend a season in Italy with HC Varese as well as three games with the Canadian National Team. By midseason, people started to notice. All Rights Reserved. It barely made it over the line. 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. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. Its basically black children. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. 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. 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. Sorry we could not verify that email address. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. 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. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. 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. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. 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? Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. 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. The next day, the other team's coach called to apologize for what had happened, which Saunders found promising a sign that things were changing, albeit slowly. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. 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. 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. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). 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. 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. I was at a Queens University hockey game. 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. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. Saunders says it's tremendous. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. 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. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. I know there werent very many [black players]. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Jarome Iginla gave me a very nice compliment when he said he felt he was at home on the ice and in the school yard, because he could say, Hey, Tony McKegney, hes playing in the NHL. He felt like he belonged on a hockey rink because I was out there. For more, check out this Q&A with McKegney & Sportsnet: While its we celebrate the historic achievements of Black players throughout Sabres history, its equally important to celebrate the Black players in the NHL today, including several with current or former ties to the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. That's how good he was.". TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. 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. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. 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. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Year By Year Fight Totals. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Tony McKegney. 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. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel I ignored that coach, of course. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. I was scared to say a peep in class. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. 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. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. {{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. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. 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. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. TM: No, not really. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. Season Players Videos. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Please contact us. I just tried to shut everything else out. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. You reached out to him afterwards. Search instead in Creative? Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 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 scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. TM: We never really talked about it much. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. 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. Do you have a sports website? The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". 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. That's the biggest compliment for me.". He played in St. Louis for two years. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. TM: It just made me want to be better. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). 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. by Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Transaction information may be incomplete. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Want to more about Him? I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. Boards and the whole thing. 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. 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. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Complete player biography and stats. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario.