Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. 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. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. Im sure it affected me. After scoring eight goals in 52 games as a rookie in 1978-79, he scored 23 in his second NHL season 37 in 1980-81. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. 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. He played in St. Louis for two years. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. But while Saunders was playing the role of helping others, he believes the Habs didn't really have any incentive to help him, since the team had its own players to develop. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. It was never published. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. It barely made it over the line. 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. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. 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 remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Want to more about Him? I didnt talk to many people about it. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. I was at a Queens University hockey game. When submitting content, please abide by our, Hockey Night in Canada: Senators vs. Blue Jackets on Sportsnet, Watch Hockey Night in Canada with Steve Dangle: Oilers vs. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Why did you feel like that was necessary? And the NHL has done a great job with helping. 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. 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. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. 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. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. Editor's note: As part of the NHL celebrating Black History Month throughout February, NHL.com will present first-person essays by some of the game's key Black players and executives. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Its basically black children. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. . NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. BIOGRAPHY. You reached out to him afterwards. 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. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? 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. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. 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. Some may find that number low. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. Please contact us. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. TM: It just made me want to be better. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. 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. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. 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. 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. 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. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). All rights reserved. "I was incredulous. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. 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. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). 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. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. 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. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. It made me angry, made me sad. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Tony McKegney. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Comments are welcome while open. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. Things just felt right that year. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. of 1 We only use official stats. "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.". 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. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. So, I reached out. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: The key is for him to keep working.. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. 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. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. It's like a catch-22.". But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 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. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. 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. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. by I ignored that coach, of course. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. (OHL). 1989-1990 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1987-1988 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (4) 1986-1987 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1985-1986 Postseason Fight Card NHL (2) 1983-1984 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1)

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