It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. 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. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. That's how good he was.". Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Subscribe: bit.ly/3925J0FVisit Sabres.com for moreFollow: twitter.com/BuffaloSabresLike: facebook.com/buffalosabresF. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Tony McKegney has a great family story - Kincardine Independent They were around five and six years old. 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. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com 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. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Enter Search Term. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Tony played for the Buffalo Sabres for 5 years until June 8, 1983 when he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques along with Andre Savard, Jean-Francois Sauve and Buffalo's third-round choice in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Real Cloutier and Quebec's first-round pick in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? of 1 All Rights Reserved. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. I was at a Queens University hockey game. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. TM: Everything. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. Tony McKegney | NHL Wiki | Fandom 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. 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. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . 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. His supporters created a fan club. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. 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. I take my hat off to Grant. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. You have permission to edit this article. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. He says he has moved on. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. More Tony McKegney videos. All rights reserved. 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. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Tony McKegney. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. 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. 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. It's not the 40 goals I scored. 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. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Search instead in Creative? Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Your existing password has not been changed. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Tony McKegney Tells His Story of How He Came to Buffalo | Sabres Tony McKegney Stats and News | NHL.com Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. 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.". Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Jonathan freaked out. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Boards and the whole thing. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . 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. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. 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. 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? During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. 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. 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. 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. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. 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 was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. 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. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Tony McKegney - Elite Prospects And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. 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. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Sorry we could not verify that email address. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and well show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. I probably should have, and I never did that. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! 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. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". "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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. 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. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. 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). Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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 *} Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. 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. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. Saunders says it's tremendous. But it wasn't to be. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. 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. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 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. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey 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. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. BIOGRAPHY. 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. (approx 1 - 2 per week). By midseason, people started to notice. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Go beyond the basics. Enter your email address to get a new one. So, I reached out. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. All rights reserved. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, City mourns Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno as investigation into fatal fire launches, Buffalo firefighter makes 'ultimate sacrifice' in blaze that may have sparked backdraft, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Vandal damages 'brokenhearted' Russell Salvatore's tribute park in Lancaster, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. TM: No, not really. by Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. 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. 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. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. Complete player biography and stats. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. "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. 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. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". But while Saunders was playing the role of helping others, he believes the Habs didn't really have any incentive to help him, since the team had its own players to develop. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. How Tony McKegney Survived And Thrived For 13 Seasons In The NHL Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. 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. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. 82 Tony Mckegney Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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 drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago 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. They were there for me for the most part. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. How does that make you feel? 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. Brother: Ian McKegney McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Join our linker program. 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. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. 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. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 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. - Improve your search rank Audience Relations, CBC P.O. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. "It was just time. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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; Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. Saunders decided that was it. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. 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. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard 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.