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The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Or write about sports? And that was the Buffalo Sabres. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. McKegney was born in Montreal and adopted by a white family in Sarnia. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? He still remembers, almost 50 years later, the smile on Saunders's face when he was told he wasn't going back to his old team. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. 8 9 25 25 10 7 14 11. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career Today, Tony McKegney, the first Black player to score 40 goals in an NHL season, tells his story of overcoming racial bias and serving as inspiration for Jarome Iginla, the only other Black player to hit the 40-goal milestone. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? 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. TM: No, not really. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. 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. 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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. 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. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? Tony McKegney spoke about his experience being one of the few black players in the NHL and how the league has progressed since his playing days. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? 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. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. 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. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Im sure it affected me. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. tony mckegney family https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images . Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. So, I reached out. Hes won Stanley Cups.. 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. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. It's not the 40 goals I scored. . You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Tony McKegney is 64 years old today because Tony's birthday is on 02/15/1958.Tony McKegney currently lives in East Amherst, NY; in the past Tony has also lived in Saint Louis MO, Detroit MI and Buffalo NY.Tony also answers to Tony S Mckegney, Anthony S Mckegney and Anthony F Mckegney, and perhaps a couple of other names. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. Complete player biography and stats. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. Do you have a blog? McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. All rights reserved. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. It can be difficult to talk about how those views affect you as a person. Jonathan freaked out. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Find out more. Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Celebrating Black History Month: Tony McKegney, Game Thread: Sabres vs. 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. 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). TM: Everything. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. It made me angry, made me sad. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Please contact us. '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. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. 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Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. It brought back some ghosts and nightmares, memories for me, which I hadnt thought about in a while. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. Today, Tony McKegney, the first Black player to score 40 goals in an NHL season, tells his story of overcoming racial bias and serving as inspiration for Jarome Iginla, the only other Black. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. Jarome Iginla. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. 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. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? Gambling problem? I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. 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. 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. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Tony McKegney. Tony sun sign is Aquarius and his birth flower is Violet & Primrose. All Rights Reserved. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. 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. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Lightning. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Enter Search Term. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. Your existing password has not been changed. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. 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. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. And I'll always be proud of the 40-goal season I had in 1987-88, the wonderful camaraderie of that Blues team, and the little chip-in that somehow found its way into the net. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. 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. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. 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. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). by And it wasn't hard to find a different place to live in St. Louis, which is a wonderful city that I've always enjoyed. SN: Given what you went through in your career, does it make it tougher to hear stories of the abuse faced by players who came after you? He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. You reached out to him afterwards. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! More Tony McKegney videos. Want to more about Him? 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. Tony McKegney. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. Saunders says it's tremendous. 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"I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. Its basically black children. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. 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. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. 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. BIOGRAPHY. 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. But he was reassigned to the minors. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. He has three 30-goal seasons. 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.