[RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. 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. We were all set to move, until the homeowner told us there was a problem: They didn't want to rent to us once they found out we were a biracial couple. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. In Tony's second stint in Quebec, he played in 98 games for the team until January 29, 1991 when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jacques Cloutier. The next day, the other team's coach called to apologize for what had happened, which Saunders found promising a sign that things were changing, albeit slowly. As of this date, Sue is single. He is not dating anyone. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. 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). Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. 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. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney Enter your email address to get a new one. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. Tony McKegney. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. And I just thought to myself, What are they doing out there? And I couldnt wait to go out there and join them at a year-and-a-half. 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. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Lightning. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. Data Provided By And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. 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. 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. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. By midseason, people started to notice. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. 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. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. 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. 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. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. We celebrate Willie ORee, the first black player in the NHL, and maybe mention Mike Marson, who was the second, then the conversation shifts all the way to the unprecedented diversity we see in the game today. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. 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. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of 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. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). It was never published. Brother: Ian McKegney Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. His supporters created a fan club. In fact, I think their parents were thinking about saying, Look, why dont you just go play soccer, because it was so bad as far as the remarks. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. 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. 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. Things just felt right that year. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. 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. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. Comments are welcome while open. 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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. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Boards and the whole thing. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. They were there for me for the most part. 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. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube 0:00 / 0:44 Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 Disengage 1.53K subscribers Subscribe 947 views 8 years ago Tony McKegney ties the game. I didnt talk to many people about it. . Go beyond the basics. Two years ago, when he scored 15 times and had 25 assists, was the only season he scored fewer than 23 goals or compiled fewer than 45 points. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. So Bassin gave him that chance. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Complete player biography and stats. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. 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. Your existing password has not been changed. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. 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. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. So, I reached out. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. Search instead in Creative? TM: No, not really. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Enter Search Term. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Jarome Iginla. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. The focus was just on playing hockey. 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. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". It's not the 40 goals I scored. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. 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. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. In fact, I didn't play against another Black hockey player for nearly 18 years -- when Ray Neufeld, Grant Fuhr, and I were all active in the League. Hes won Stanley Cups.. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. 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. And it wasn't hard to find a different place to live in St. Louis, which is a wonderful city that I've always enjoyed. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . Sorry we could not verify that email address. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. "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. Two years ago, when he scored 15 times and had 25 assists, was the only season he scored fewer than 23 goals or compiled fewer than 45 points. Do you have a sports website? The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? "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 loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. Find out more. TM: I knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. I just tried to shut everything else out. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. 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. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. All Rights Reserved. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. I ignored that coach, of course. How does that make you feel? He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? All rights reserved. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. 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 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. 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. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. 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. Transaction information may be incomplete. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Some may find that number low. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. More Tony McKegney videos. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. 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 just felt defeated," he said. All rights reserved. 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.
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