tony mckegney family

That fast-forwarding tends to bypass the magical middle and the stories of many players who felt alone but nonetheless accomplished great things, opening opportunities for those who followed. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. There was nothing special about the goal. But he was reassigned to the minors. 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. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights There have been 93 black players in the NHL. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' They're too neat; too objective. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. They were there for me for the most part. . Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. 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. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. An oddity on the ice - CBC Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. Former Buffalo Sabre Tony McKegney charged with violating order of The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. TM: I liked all sports. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. You have permission to edit this article. 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. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. 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 was born on February 15, 1958. We present them here for purely educational purposes. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. Jarome told me that he felt comfortable at the school yard because he could point to me and say, "Look, Tony McKegney's playing in the NHL.". I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. How does that make you feel? While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Find out more. Tony McKegney. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. 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? Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube Tony McKegney. As of this date, Sue is single. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. 'I loved the game, but the game didn't love me': How hockey shaped one of NHL's first black players on and off the ice | CBC News Loaded. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. Comments are welcome while open. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? And that was the Buffalo Sabres. 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. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. He played in St. Louis for two years. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. TM: Its wonderful. 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. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. Tony McKegney - Net Worth February 2023, Salary, Age, Siblings, Bio But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. I was scared to say a peep in class. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. All Rights Reserved. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family Position: LW Shoots: Left. 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. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. 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. Former Sabres player charged for violating order of protection But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. 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. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Its basically black children. 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. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. Enter Search Term. 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. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. 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. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. {{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. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! So, I reached out. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . 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 is a well known Ice Hockey. (approx 1 - 2 per week). 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. 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. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. - Improve your search rank Things just felt right that year. Search instead in Creative? Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. 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. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. BIOGRAPHY. 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. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. 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. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. 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. 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. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. (OHL). 82 Tony Mckegney Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. 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. 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. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. 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. 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. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. SN: If you had a chance to talk to the young African-Canadian and African-American kids coming into the game, what would you tell them that you wish youd known? 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. Complete player biography and stats. 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. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. I probably should have, and I never did that. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. 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 was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. All rights reserved. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. 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. I didnt talk to many people about it. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Tony McKegney Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Age, Family, Facts and More Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). One was Saunders. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Hes been an All-Star. He was coaching the Pickering Panthers, a Junior B team, when he suspended four players for breaking a rule and got four replacements from a lower-level team. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. It's not the 40 goals I scored. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. 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. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Tony McKegney | Ice Hockey Wiki | Fandom Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? 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. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. 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. He paved the way for me. He is 64 years old. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. 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. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. 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. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? So Bassin gave him that chance. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. 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). Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 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. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. We didn't recognize that password reset code. "It was just time. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. Jets on Sportsnet, Marchment, Pavelski end droughts as Stars dominate Avalanche, Cooper on benching Stamkos, Kucherov, Point: 'Weren't giving us the best chance to win', Bertuzzi sets up goal, Bruins stretch winning-streak in win over Rangers, Lightning fall to Sabres, bench Kucherov, Stamkos, Point for third period, {* backButton *} So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. That's the biggest compliment for me.". 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. 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. 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. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. But it wasn't to be. You get to keep that mask on and Im out there for everybody to see. So, I told Grant, jokingly, that I was envious of him. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally.