tony mckegney family

His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? I was at a Queens University hockey game. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. 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. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. But on the. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. 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. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Some may find that number low. {{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. 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. Please contact us. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. 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. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? More Tony McKegney videos. Go beyond the basics. But it wasn't to be. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. Enter Search Term. 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 was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. The focus was just on playing hockey. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey 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. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. 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. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Saunders decided that was it. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. 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 was incredulous. 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. 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. I just felt defeated," he said. 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. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. Lightning. 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. (approx 1 - 2 per week). Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. 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. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. I know there werent very many [black players]. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. 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. Never fully comfortable: Maple Leafs Kerfoot and the trade he dodged, Canucks commit to re-tooling over re-building with Hronek addition, On a career heater, Nugent-Hopkins four-point night helps Oilers ground Jets. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. He says he has moved on. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. He played in St. Louis for two years. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. TM: Its wonderful. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. The key is for him to keep working.. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. You reached out to him afterwards. It's like a catch-22.". 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. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. '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. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. Search instead in Creative? Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. He has three 30-goal seasons. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. 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. All Rights Reserved. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. I probably should have, and I never did that. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. 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. He signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association, but that news generated a great deal of hate mail, etc., in the South. Boards and the whole thing. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. 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. Transaction information may be incomplete. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. 1989-1990 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1987-1988 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (4) 1986-1987 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1985-1986 Postseason Fight Card NHL (2) 1983-1984 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. Join our linker program. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. 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. 1978 round 2 #32 overall by Buffalo Sabres, OMJHL So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. At the age of 20, Tony signed a contract with the now defunct World Hockey Associations (WHA) team in Birmingham, Alabama only to see the owner illegally renege on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for having added a black player to its roster. 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. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". TM: I liked all sports. All Rights Reserved. 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. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. I just tried to shut everything else out. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Data Provided By But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Jarome Iginla. McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. One was Saunders. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. They were around five and six years old. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Comments are welcome while open. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. 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. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. I take my hat off to Grant. 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. All Rights Reserved. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Find out more. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. Brother: Ian McKegney They were there for me for the most part. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Season Players Videos. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. His supporters created a fan club. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. So, I reached out. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. 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. 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. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. 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 says he doesn't watch much anymore. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. 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. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. 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. 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. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. 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. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. 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. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). 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. 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. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. That's how good he was.". - Improve your search rank SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. 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 *} 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. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. of 1 Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Hes had the most success. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. But he was reassigned to the minors. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. "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.