Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. "It was just time. I ignored that coach, of course. 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. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. 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Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. So Bassin gave him that chance. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. 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. 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. of 1 So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. 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 people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. As of this date, Sue is single. All Rights Reserved. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. TM: It just made me want to be better. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. The key is for him to keep working.. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Sorry we could not verify that email address. During his first stint in Quebec, he played for the team until December 14, 1984 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars along with Bo Berglund in exchange for Brad Maxwell and Brent Ashton. 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? Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. Tony McKegney. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. 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. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. 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. 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. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Hes been an All-Star. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. 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. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney 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. 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. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. 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. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 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. Go beyond the basics. We only use official stats. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. 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. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. by I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. He paved the way for me. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. How does that make you feel? '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. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. We didn't recognize that password reset code. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. All rights reserved. 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. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. He says he has moved on. 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. 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. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. 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. TM: I liked all sports. But on the. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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. "I think for us growing and trying to make it into the NHL, guys like [Bernie], who help you and calm you at the right time, it was huge.". And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. 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. 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. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 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. He signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association, but that news generated a great deal of hate mail, etc., in the South. The judge ordered McKegney, while on probation, to complete all assessments, counselling and treatments directed by his probation supervisor to deal with issues arising from domestic. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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? My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. They were there for me for the most part. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . Enter Search Term. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Comments are welcome while open. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. 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. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. 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. 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. McKegney had been expected to sign with Birmingham of the World Hockey Association, but the deal fell through and he was taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (No. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I suppressed a lot of things over the years. 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. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. 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: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". 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. Gambling problem? There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres 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. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. 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. But he was reassigned to the minors. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. 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. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Saunders says it's tremendous. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. He is not dating anyone. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! "People just forget me because I didn't play. Odds & lines subject to change. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel . 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 had 639 points over his career. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 66 games with Kingston of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1976-77 and 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games the following season, when he also played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

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