tony mckegney family

Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. It was never published. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. Jarome Iginla. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. 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. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. I just felt defeated," he said. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. He still remembers, almost 50 years later, the smile on Saunders's face when he was told he wasn't going back to his old team. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. In fact, I didn't play against another Black hockey player for nearly 18 years -- when Ray Neufeld, Grant Fuhr, and I were all active in the League. Enter Search Term. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. Things just felt right that year. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects 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. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. He says he has moved on. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. 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. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. '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 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). Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. by 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. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. It barely made it over the line. In fact, I think their parents were thinking about saying, Look, why dont you just go play soccer, because it was so bad as far as the remarks. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. 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. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. Data Provided By It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. "I was incredulous. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Previously, in the early '80s, one of my team's assistant coaches advised me to start dating a Black woman instead of Sue for similarly ignorant and bigoted reasons. They were around five and six years old. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. BIOGRAPHY. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. Want to more about Him? Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. 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. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . They were there for me for the most part. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? Comments are welcome while open. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. 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. 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. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Hes won Stanley Cups.. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. "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. 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. 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. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career He is not dating anyone. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. "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. 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. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. 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. 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. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 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. 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. That's the biggest compliment for me.". There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) 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. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Go beyond the basics. I didnt talk to many people about it. Brother: Ian McKegney Tony McKegney has a great family story - Kincardine Independent 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. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey How does that make you feel? But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. He paved the way for me. They're too neat; too objective. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Hes been an All-Star. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. Search instead in Creative? * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? Jonathan freaked out. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. 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. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. 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. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. 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. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. It made me angry, made me sad. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. . McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. 'We've taken one step forward and two back': Willie O'Ree on fighting racism in sports, This rural Ontario black hockey line broke barriers producing generations of star players, Being Black in Canada: Highlighting the Black experience, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. More Tony McKegney videos. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. ago] Height 6.01 -- Weight 200 [185 cm/91 kg] Drafted by Buffalo Sabres - round 2 #32 overall 1978 NHL Amateur Draft Regular Season Playoffs; McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. 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. I take my hat off to Grant. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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'll always be proud of the 40-goal season I had in 1987-88, the wonderful camaraderie of that Blues team, and the little chip-in that somehow found its way into the net. But he was reassigned to the minors. 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. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights All Rights Reserved. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. The focus was just on playing hockey. His supporters created a fan club. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. 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. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Youre a great player. I just tried to shut everything else out. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. 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. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Sorry we could not verify that email address. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. You have permission to edit this article. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Enter Search Term. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. You reached out to him afterwards. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. While in Minnesota, Tony played for the organization for 3 years until November 13, 1986 when he was traded to the New York Rangers along with Curt Giles and Minnesota's second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bob Brooke and Minnesota's fourth-round choice in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. 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 could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. 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. Tony S McKegney, 64 - East Amherst, NY - Has Court or Arrest Records Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". My mother and father -- who adopted me from an orphanage in Montreal, and who happen to be white -- built a hockey rink in our backyard every winter, where I'd skate with my siblings. SN: When you were playing hockey as youngster, there werent many black faces for you to see when you watched NHL games on Saturday nights. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. But on the. 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. I always said that the game is tough enough as it is just trying to survive and make it outside of having that stuff on the sidelines. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. 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. 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). 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. Do you have a blog? 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. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. All Rights Reserved. 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. Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane on salary cap, Gabe Davis expectations, Damar Hamlin update and more, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Owner of Buffalo CPA firm denies claims of financial, workplace wrongdoing, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to take year off from coaching, Yellow Corp. to close two trucking terminals, Sabres acquire defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom, 14 police agencies break up fights outside Boulevard Mall, Democrats explore blue-collar struggles as brand is 'damaged', Erie County comptroller calls for state to investigate Forest Lawn, Oklahoma RB Eric Gray at the NFL scouting combine, Ohio State C Luke Wypler speaks at the NFL scouting combine, UB players mom sings stirring rendition of national anthem on senior night, Serena Williams says her daughter doesn't like playing tennis. 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. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com 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. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him.
Art Portfolio With Plastic Sleeves, Yes Communities Regional Managers, Cherry Coke Shortage 2022, Plus One Personal Massager Charger, Overton Bin Collection, Articles T