tony mckegney family

I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. 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. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. 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Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. One was Saunders. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? Do you have a sports website? 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. It's something that most Black players at the time trained themselves to do, even though we shouldn't have needed to. by The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. They're too neat; too objective. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. Collect, curate and comment on your files. I didnt talk to many people about it. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) 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. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. 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. That year, he also played against a team from Birmingham, Ala. His first game there, team executives told him he might be shot, so he went into the arena with extra protection. It was never published. 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. 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. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. Tony McKegney. "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. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. Im sure it affected me. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. He has three 30-goal seasons. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. 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; 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. 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. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. McKegney was 20, playing junior hockey for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey Association, when the Buffalo Sabres made him their second-round choice in the 1978 draft. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He paved the way for me. 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. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . 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. I ignored that coach, of course. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. We use cookies to improve your experience. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. 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? An error has occurred while trying to update your details. I probably should have, and I never did that. BIOGRAPHY. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Do you have a blog? The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. 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. As a teenager, he played for Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The next day, the other team's coach called to apologize for what had happened, which Saunders found promising a sign that things were changing, albeit slowly. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. 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. Oilers' Mike Green out three to four weeks with knee injury, Islanders re-assign Josh Ho-Sang to Blues' AHL affiliate. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. TM: We never really talked about it much. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Some may find that number low. Things just felt right that year. 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 *} 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. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. Or write about sports? He said, Just turn on the red light, which means scoring a goal. 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. You get to keep that mask on and Im out there for everybody to see. So, I told Grant, jokingly, that I was envious of him. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. 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. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. 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. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. Enter your email address to get a new one. TM: Its wonderful. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. 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. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. He is 64 years old. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! "People just forget me because I didn't play. "Tony McKegney showed me it was possible for someone like me to play in the NHL," future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla said in author Cecil Harris' book, "Breaking The Ice, The Black Experience in Professional Hockey." "He set the example. I just felt defeated," he said. There was nothing special about the goal. His supporters created a fan club. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Your existing password has not been changed. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. They were around five and six years old. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. 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. "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.". 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. At age 5, I started playing organized hockey. '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. Tony McKegney (born Anthony Syiid McKegney on February 15, 1958) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played in the NHL for 13 seasons from 1978-79 until 1990-91. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Tony currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. 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. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. Before Jarome was an NHL superstar and represented Canada in three Olympics, he was just like every other Canadian kid playing ball hockey in the school yard -- except he stood out for looking different than the 'typical' hockey player. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. It is the 10th NHL season for McKegney, who will be 30 on Feb. 15, and one that he would like to make his best. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. "One of the nicest things I hear from young people is they felt because I was there playing they felt they could be accepted in hockey," McKegney told The Buffalo News in 2017. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. McKegney spent less than two years with the Nordiques, and had several more stops around the NHL during the next several seasons. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. Saunders says it's tremendous. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . He played in St. Louis for two years. 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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. 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. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. From the time he was in the crib, Jonathan was obsessed with the sport, and so he followed in his father's footsteps. I know there werent very many [black players]. 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. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said.

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