tony mckegney family

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. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. 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. 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. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). It barely made it over the line. I just tried to shut everything else out. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. Lightning. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. Saunders decided that was it. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. You sort of never felt like you were different. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. Lightning. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Do you have a blog? Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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). Go beyond the basics. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the 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. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Odds & lines subject to change. Why did you feel like that was necessary? 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. 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. 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. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. 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. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. "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. I remember the dedication that my parents put into it when we were younger, driving us to rinks at 7 in the morning, he said. TM: It just made me want to be better. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! They were around five and six years old. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. 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.". Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. 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. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. 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. Saunders was part of a wave of black players who debuted after Willie O'Ree became the first black player in the National Hockey League in 1958. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. 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. 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. 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. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? 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. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. He played in St. Louis for two years. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. Jonathan freaked out. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. "One of the nicest things I hear from young people is they felt because I was there playing they felt they could be accepted in hockey," McKegney told The Buffalo News in 2017. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. "It was just time. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. 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). Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. Enter Search Term. He says he has moved on. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Reality doesn't always add up. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. Complete player biography and stats. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. "People just forget me because I didn't play. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. '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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. 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 1978-79 until 1990-91. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. We present them here for purely educational purposes. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. 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. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. 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. 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 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. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. 2023 Getty Images. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Carbonneau, a Hall of Famer who played and coached for the Canadiens and now works as an analyst, remembers Saunders as an honest player and hard worker someone who could do pretty much anything on the ice and served as a veteran presence on the team. Buy his book. Tony McKegney Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. 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. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Things just felt right that year. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. 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. 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. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. They're too neat; too objective. 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. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. 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. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. 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. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. 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. 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. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. All Rights Reserved. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. 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. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. He is 64 years old. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. 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. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. '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. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. Or write about sports? McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Please contact us. So, I reached out. 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. Hes been an All-Star. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Do you have a sports website? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Economics and demographics - there are far fewer blacks in his native Canada than in the United States - still keep blacks from following him to the pro ranks. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. 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. 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. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams.

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