tony mckegney family
caesars 5x tier credits 2021His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. "I got a lot of feedback from people in Canada that they were accepted in the schoolyard or outdoor rink because they could point to me as being a person of color playing in the National Hockey League. It barely made it over the line. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. 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. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. Do you have a blog? Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. 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. Buy his book. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. 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. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. I just felt defeated," he said. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. 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. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. 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. 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. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 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. 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. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Enter Search Term. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. 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. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? (approx 1 - 2 per week). But on the. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Tony McKegney My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey 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. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. 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. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Why did you feel like that was necessary? "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. We use cookies to improve your experience. Transaction information may be incomplete. One was Saunders. 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. That's the biggest compliment for me.". Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Do you have a sports website? Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. So, I reached out. You reached out to him afterwards. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. Find out more. '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. Jarome Iginla. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. INDIANAPOLIS Along with the change in defensive coordinator with Leslie Frazier deciding to "take a step back," Bills General Manager Brando, The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge, Frazier, who turns 64 in April, plans to return to coaching in 2024, the Bills said. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. 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. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. The sport that Saunders loved so much, the sport he says shaped him into the person he has become, has also broken his heart many times. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. It made me angry, made me sad. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. 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. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Search instead in Creative? by Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. - Improve your search rank There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Brother: Ian McKegney 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. We only use official stats. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Of course, I also thought about the bonus clause in my contract, which promised $15,000 if I happened to score 40 goals (that was a lot of money in those days). He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. Year By Year Fight Totals. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. Tony McKegney. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. {{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. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Your existing password has not been changed. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. That year, he also played against a team from Birmingham, Ala. His first game there, team executives told him he might be shot, so he went into the arena with extra protection. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. 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. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. 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. 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. 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. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. 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. 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. 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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. 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 weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. 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. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) 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. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Go beyond the basics. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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.