TM: We never really talked about it much. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. "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. 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 was never published. They were around five and six years old. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. 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 *} How does that make you feel? Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. All Rights Reserved. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. 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. Anytime I faced adversity, I said, Okay, Im going to put a couple of pucks in the net today for sure. And I was just going to show everybody that I was as good or better than them. 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.". I was scared to say a peep in class. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. He paved the way for me. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. 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; We only use official stats. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Season Players Videos. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. "I think for us growing and trying to make it into the NHL, guys like [Bernie], who help you and calm you at the right time, it was huge.". McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Hes won Stanley Cups.. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. 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. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. I just felt defeated," he said. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. 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. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. 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. Your existing password has not been changed. 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. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? 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 played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. Submit changes (incorrect DOB, missing stats, incorrect stats, social media links etc) using a web form and we will review your update request within 24 hours and update accordingly. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. 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. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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. Saunders, 63, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has since retired and written a book about his life. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. His NHL career ended with nine games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1990-91, but he went on to play for the Canadian National Team, overseas in Italy with Varese HC and in the IHL with the San Diego Gulls before hanging up the skates in 1993. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. You have permission to edit this article. Saunders says it's tremendous. 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. 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 MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". Audience Relations, CBC P.O. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. 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. In Tony's second stint in Quebec, he played in 98 games for the team until January 29, 1991 when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jacques Cloutier. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. All Rights Reserved. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. 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. - Improve your search rank Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Transaction information may be incomplete. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes.
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