Willie [ORee] had a good thing. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. 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. Saunders says it's tremendous. Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. 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) It made me angry, made me sad. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Sorry we could not verify that email address. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 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. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. Please contact us. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. Position: LW Shoots: Left. Data Provided By And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? His father eventually returned to Nigeria, and when Tony was a year old, he was adopted by the McKegneys, a white couple that lived in Sarnia, Ontario. That's how good he was.". Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. 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. 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). We only use official stats. ST. LOUIS (AP) _ If not for an early twist of fate, Tony McKegney would probably not be plying his talents in a sport that is essentially all white. of 1 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. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. 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. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. While in Minnesota, Tony played for the organization for 3 years until November 13, 1986 when he was traded to the New York Rangers along with Curt Giles and Minnesota's second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bob Brooke and Minnesota's fourth-round choice in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. 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 *} 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. 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. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. As of this date, Sue is single. And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Transaction information may be incomplete. Buy his book. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. 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. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. 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. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. 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. (OHL). It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. Its basically black children. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. I said, "I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. 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 Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. He played six games and didn't score, but played well. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? So Bassin gave him that chance. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e.
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To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. Jarome Iginla gave me a very nice compliment when he said he felt he was at home on the ice and in the school yard, because he could say, Hey, Tony McKegney, hes playing in the NHL. He felt like he belonged on a hockey rink because I was out there. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. He paved the way for me. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. The next season, his agent Art Kaminsky told him that must have meant the Nordiques wanted to keep him, so he went into training camp intent on making an impression. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. 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. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? He was the fifth black man to play in the league. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. SN: The numbers of black players at all levels has increased. That is a great start and I am looking forward to rooting for the Black players drafted in the past few years who are going to carry on this legacy. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. They're too neat; too objective. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. Your existing password has not been changed. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Enter Search Term. I was too timid to talk to a girl. 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. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. 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. . 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. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. One was Saunders. I take my hat off to Grant. 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. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. 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. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. 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. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. We didn't recognize that password reset code. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. 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. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. 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. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. 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