Odds & lines subject to change. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. 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. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. They were around five and six years old. 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. The key is for him to keep working.. 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. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Tony McKegney has a great family story - Kincardine Independent Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. by More Tony McKegney videos. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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. 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. 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. TM: It just made me want to be better. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? And the NHL has done a great job with helping. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. 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; As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. He has three 30-goal seasons. Tony McKegney. 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. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. Things just felt right that year. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. 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. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Wiki-Bio, Family TM: I remember mentioning to Grant Fuhr, it mightve been an All-Star Game or something, I said, Youre lucky. Youre going to do well in the NHL. I just praised him, knowing that he was a great player and he was going to play in the NHL for a long time. Lightning. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. 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. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. TM: I liked all sports. 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. I was too timid to talk to a girl. Former Sabres player charged for violating order of protection We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? Tony McKegney is a well known Ice Hockey. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Saunders decided that was it. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. 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. It barely made it over the line. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. 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. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. 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. Tony McKegney | NHL Wiki | Fandom Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. Enter Search Term. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. It's not the 40 goals I scored. Enter your email address to get a new one. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. 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. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. All Rights Reserved. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Gambling problem? While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. . But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. 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. All rights reserved. Complete player biography and stats. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. One was Saunders. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. Tony McKegney - Net Worth February 2023, Salary, Age, Siblings, Bio He was coaching the Pickering Panthers, a Junior B team, when he suspended four players for breaking a rule and got four replacements from a lower-level team. Tony McKegney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. The focus was just on playing hockey. Im sure it affected me. 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. by 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. 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 have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. Why did you feel like that was necessary? I take my hat off to Grant. He was the fifth black man to play in the league. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. Want to more about Him? Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. 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 knew John because we were teammates, we were roommates, and it seemed out of character for him. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. 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. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? That's how good he was.". 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. How does that make you feel? The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. 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. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. All rights reserved. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". So, I reached out. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. We use cookies to improve your experience. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! 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. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. When Saunderswas still a teenager, the family moved back to Quebec, to Chteauguay a town on Montreal's South Shore with a strong hockey tradition. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney But it wasn't to be. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. I was at a Queens University hockey game. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice.
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