My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. I ignored that coach, of course. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. 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. 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. Why did you feel like that was necessary? It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 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 went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. 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 is a well known Ice Hockey. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. Playing hockey at a high level is difficult enough without navigating the pressures of racism in society or figuring out how to respond to the supposed "fan" with a sign that says, "McKegney, grab a basketball" behind the Zamboni entrance. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. We use cookies to improve your experience. It takes time to grow a sport, he says, and now young black kids have something he didn't: the opportunity to play the game they love with people who look like them, and to see more than one black person playing it at the highest level. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. "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. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. 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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. I always said that the game is tough enough as it is just trying to survive and make it outside of having that stuff on the sidelines. Comments are welcome while open. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. They were around five and six years old. So Bassin gave him that chance. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? But I cherish everything about that goal that found my stick in the last minute of the last game of my 1987-88 season with the St. Louis Blues. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. 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. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. 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. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. All Rights Reserved. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. Jarome Iginla. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 66 games with Kingston of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1976-77 and 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games the following season, when he also played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? 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. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. TM: I liked all sports. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. 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. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. 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. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. When the last road trip started, I thought about how meaningful it would be to end the season with a goal total that was a round number. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. It is the 10th NHL season for McKegney, who will be 30 on Feb. 15, and one that he would like to make his best. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. There was nothing special about the goal. That's the biggest compliment for me.". Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. Buy his book. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. More Tony McKegney videos. 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. We only use official stats. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. It barely made it over the line. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. Enter Search Term. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". Boards and the whole thing. 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 McKegney had 320 goals over his career. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. They were there for me for the most part. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Youre a great player. 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. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. TM: We never really talked about it much. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. 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. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. As of this date, Sue is single. He has three 30-goal seasons. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. 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. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. "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. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. Do you have a blog? Enter Search Term. 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. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Please contact us. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. It was never published. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. 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. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. Brother: Ian McKegney McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. 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. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. 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. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. Im sure it affected me. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. All Rights Reserved. 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). So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. '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. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. by 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. TM: No, not really. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". 2023 Getty Images. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. He decided to sign as a free agent with the Nordiques because he felt they would give him the best opportunity to play right away plus, he would be reunited with Demers. Odds & lines subject to change. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. You reached out to him afterwards. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Do you have a sports website? By midseason, people started to notice. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. 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. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. How does that make you feel? Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. 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. Hes been an All-Star. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? All Rights Reserved. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. It made me angry, made me sad. 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Collect, curate and comment on your files. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. But he was reassigned to the minors. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. 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 *}
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