tony mckegney family

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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. 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. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . 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? All Rights Reserved. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. It's not the 40 goals I scored. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. 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. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. 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. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. But by capitalizing on circumstances known by few, he has become an example for blacks who would aspire to playing in the National Hockey League. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. "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.". 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. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. '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. 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. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. "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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. 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. 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. 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 McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Some may find that number low. 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. 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. 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. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. 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. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. 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. You learn that what matters most is their work ethic, their commitment, their passion, their personality, maybe their sense of humor -- certainly not the way they look. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. Halls contract with the Bills had expired, although left unanswered is whether the team made an effort to retain him or Hall simply was rea. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. They were around five and six years old. "People just forget me because I didn't play. 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. 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. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Your existing password has not been changed. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Search instead in Creative? The focus was just on playing hockey. But on the. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. 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. 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. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. It made me angry, made me sad. 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.". Things just felt right that year. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. He is 64 years old. 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. Lightning. During his first stint in Quebec, he played for the team until December 14, 1984 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars along with Bo Berglund in exchange for Brad Maxwell and Brent Ashton. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. Do you have a sports website? One was Saunders. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. Tony McKegney If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. 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. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. tony mckegney family https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images . To me, there is no better example of such a player than Tony McKegney, who played 13 seasons in the NHL and was the first star of colour. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. 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). Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Tony McKegney, former NHLer and ambassador for, Hockey is for Everyone, congratulates a participant during the clinic sponsored by the NHL and the. 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. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. As of this date, Sue is single. 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. 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. 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. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. Hes won Stanley Cups.. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. I know there werent very many [black players]. I was too timid to talk to a girl. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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. 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. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Tony was born on February 15, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec.. Tony is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a Ice Hockey. It barely made it over the line. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! Find out more. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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 *} My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Tony McKegney. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. BIOGRAPHY. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. 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. Complete player biography and stats. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. It's like a catch-22.". "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. Or write about sports? Why did you feel like that was necessary? And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Enter your email address to get a new one. '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. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. Please contact us. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. 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. McKegney was 20, playing junior hockey for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey Association, when the Buffalo Sabres made him their second-round choice in the 1978 draft. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. 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. Hes had the most success. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. Im sure it affected me. (OHL). Take control of your EliteProspects profile! He says he doesn't watch much anymore. 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. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney His supporters created a fan club. They were there for me for the most part. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. They had talks about what to do when the racist taunts would inevitably begin don't react, don't let them get to you but sure enough, when his son was a teenager, in the late '90s, an opponent called him the N-word on the ice. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. 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. 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. "It was just time. 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. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? 2023 Getty Images. 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. But he was reassigned to the minors. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) We didn't recognize that password reset code. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. 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. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. After playing in 64 games for the Rangers, Tony was traded to the St. Louis Blues on May 28, 1987 along with Rob Whistle in exchange for Bruce Bell and future considerations. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. 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. SN: If you had a chance to talk to the young African-Canadian and African-American kids coming into the game, what would you tell them that you wish youd known? 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. Do you have a blog? Join our linker program. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League.

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