He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. All Rights Reserved. "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. Hes had the most success. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. One referee, trying to break up the scuffle, grabbed Jonathan from behind. It barely made it over the line. In February 1988, I was interviewed for an article called "Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL," where I talked about how the season was going and importance of role models. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. That's how good he was.". The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. 'I loved the game, but the game didn't love me': How hockey shaped one of NHL's first black players on and off the ice | CBC News Loaded. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Tony McKegney Height, Weight & Measurements At 63 years old, Tony McKegney height is 1.85 m and Weight 91 kg. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? Willie [ORee] had a good thing. He stayed through 1983 and was a regular almost all of the time. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. That's the biggest compliment for me.". I take my hat off to Grant. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. 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. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Buffalo looks to bounce back with a clean slate against another tough team. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. TM: I liked all sports. 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. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. You have permission to edit this article. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. I just felt defeated," he said. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? His supporters created a fan club. He is not dating anyone. 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. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. 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. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". All rights reserved. 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. All Rights Reserved. Reality doesn't always add up. 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. Or write about sports? Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". 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.". Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. 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. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. 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. Join our linker program. I was too timid to talk to a girl. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. 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. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. 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. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. Do you have a sports website? 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. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. 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. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Do you have a blog? Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. It's not the 40 goals I scored. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. By midseason, people started to notice. 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. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. I probably should have, and I never did that. 2023 Getty Images. 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 on February 15, 1958. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. You reached out to him afterwards. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. Comments are welcome while open. 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. 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 believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Position: LW Shoots: Left. Lightning. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. We use cookies to improve your experience. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. He paved the way for me. (OHL). Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. 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. Complete player biography and stats. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. Two years ago, when he scored 15 times and had 25 assists, was the only season he scored fewer than 23 goals or compiled fewer than 45 points. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Year By Year Fight Totals. 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. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. 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. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. But on the. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. And if those people were wrong about his future in hockey, what else might they be wrong about? 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. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. So, I reached out. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. I was there in the audience watching the games, and I heard the comments that were [made about him]. 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. TM: Its wonderful. 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. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. 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. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . They were around five and six years old. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Some may find that number low. 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. 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. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. Jonathan freaked out. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. 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