Mansplaining Comebacks, Holderness Family Controversy, Carlisle Police News, Crawley Town Players Wages, Resurrection Pass Trail Death, Articles T

We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. 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. 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. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. As of this date, Sue is single. 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. Go beyond the basics. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. You reached out to him afterwards. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. 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. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. Editor's note: As part of the NHL celebrating Black History Month throughout February, NHL.com will present first-person essays by some of the game's key Black players and executives. All rights reserved. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. Enter Search Term. Im sure it affected me. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. 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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. 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. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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. It was never published. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. All Rights Reserved. "People just forget me because I didn't play. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. Tony McKegney spoke about his experience being one of the few black players in the NHL and how the league has progressed since his playing days. 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. Things just felt right that year. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. 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. More Tony McKegney videos. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. 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. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. 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 he was reassigned to the minors. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. The key is for him to keep working.. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Brother: Ian McKegney My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. Saunders says Demers is one of the people who taught him the work ethic and discipline that carried him until he lost his enthusiasm for the game. We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. Season Players Videos. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. 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. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. They were there for me for the most part. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. All Rights Reserved. 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 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. 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. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. 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. 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. Enter Search Term. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. 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. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. 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. Tony McKegney. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. But I cherish everything about that goal that found my stick in the last minute of the last game of my 1987-88 season with the St. Louis Blues. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. 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. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play 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. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Reality doesn't always add up. 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. But it wasn't to be. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. 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. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Join our linker program. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. It barely made it over the line. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. He is not dating anyone. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! SN: Trevor was able to persevere. Comments are welcome while open. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. It's like a catch-22.". 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. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) {{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. Year By Year Fight Totals. 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. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. - Improve your search rank They're too neat; too objective. All rights reserved. He has three 30-goal seasons. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. 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. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. 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. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. You have permission to edit this article. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. TM: No, not really. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. 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. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. How does that make you feel? TM: I liked all sports. I know there werent very many [black players]. Buy his book. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. The Nordiques didn't have a farm team that year, so he was sent to play for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, one of the Montreal Canadiens' farm teams. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. That's how good he was.". 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 probably should have, and I never did that. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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 born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. So, I reached out. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. His supporters created a fan club. 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. Saunders says it's tremendous. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. TM: Everything. (approx 1 - 2 per week). 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He heard the N-word on the ice and from fans in the stands, and opponents always made sure to finish their checks on him. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Lightning. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. Sorry we could not verify that email address. 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. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). 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. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. His first encounter with racism happened while he was playing junior hockey after his family moved to Ajax, Ont., during his senior year of high school. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Do you have a sports website? Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. Your existing password has not been changed. "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. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". Do you have a blog? Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. 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. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months.