Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. Even now, when I tell the story of the 1987-1988 season, I use a lot of numbers to explain why the season turned out so special. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. - Improve your search rank I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. Gambling problem? Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. 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 *} It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. Tony McKegney. Youre a great player. I didnt talk to many people about it. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. I was too timid to talk to a girl. 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. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? How does that make you feel? 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. 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. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. 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. It's not the 40 goals I scored. '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. 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 wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. 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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 arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. 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. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. 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. 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. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Odds & lines subject to change. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. 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. 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. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. 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. Want to more about Him? Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. I just felt defeated," he said. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. Search instead in Creative? Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. 20 Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images All News Archival Browse 20 sabres tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . 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. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. TM: No, not really. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. All rights reserved. But it wasn't to be. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. 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. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. 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. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. Hes been an All-Star. "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. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. 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? 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. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Hes won Stanley Cups.. 2023 Getty Images. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. 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. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. All rights reserved. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. That's the biggest compliment for me.". We only use official stats. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. 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. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. 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. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. 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. There was nothing special about the goal. The next season, his agent Art Kaminsky told him that must have meant the Nordiques wanted to keep him, so he went into training camp intent on making an impression. He played in St. Louis for two years. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. He says he has moved on. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. 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. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? TM: It just made me want to be better. 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. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. 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; Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Things just felt right that year. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals .