My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. 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. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. He played in St. Louis for two years. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. He got out of his contract, went back to Michigan and started playing for the Kalamazoo Wings, an International Hockey League team, while establishing himself at Upjohn, a pharmaceutical company. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Search instead in Creative? Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . 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. Lightning. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. 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). Position: LW Shoots: Left. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. TM: Its wonderful. 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. 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. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. 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. 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. It was never published. 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. They were around five and six years old. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? (OHL). 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. 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. 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 believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. 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. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. Transaction information may be incomplete. 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. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Go beyond the basics. Enter Search Term. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. The focus was just on playing hockey. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. 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). Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. 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) TM: It just made me want to be better. 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. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. He was also able to open doors and create a level of acceptance for young black players who could point to him and his contemporaries as successes. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Hes had the most success. I was at a Queens University hockey game. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 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. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? 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. But he was reassigned to the minors. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. 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. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Jarome told me that he felt comfortable at the school yard because he could point to me and say, "Look, Tony McKegney's playing in the NHL.". McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. All Rights Reserved. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. It's not the 40 goals I scored. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. I just tried to shut everything else out. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . 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. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. 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. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Tony McKegney. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. All rights reserved. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. 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. All Rights Reserved. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. I just felt defeated," he said. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL.
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