Tony McKegney has never won a Stanley Cup as a player. They were there for me for the most part. I was too timid to talk to a girl. 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. 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. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. He appeared in 363 regular-season games with Buffalo, putting up 127 goals and adding 141 assists. 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. But by capitalizing on circumstances known by few, he has become an example for blacks who would aspire to playing in the National Hockey League. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. 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. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. TM: I liked all sports. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. At the age of 20, Tony signed a contract with the now defunct World Hockey Associations (WHA) team in Birmingham, Alabama only to see the owner illegally renege on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for having added a black player to its roster. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Why did you feel like that was necessary? 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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. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Brother: Ian McKegney 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Hes won Stanley Cups.. 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. Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Tony was born on February 15, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec.. Tony is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a Ice Hockey. 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. But it wasn't to be. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. Position: LW Shoots: Left. 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. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. 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. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. I was at a Queens University hockey game. And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. 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. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. TM: No, not really. It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. You reached out to him afterwards. 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. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. You have permission to edit this article. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. SN: Trevor Daley went through a difficult, racially insensitive experience with John Vanbiesbrouck. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. I didnt talk to many people about it. But Jarrett believes Saunders deserved to be there. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. One was Saunders. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. Comments are welcome while open. He says he doesn't watch much anymore. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Jonathan freaked out. '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. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. He played in St. Louis for two years. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. 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. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. I dont have any theory why Tony has played with so many teams. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. 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. We use cookies to improve your experience. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? (OHL). He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". 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. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. The focus was just on playing hockey. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. A couple of weeks ago, Ron MacLean from Hockey Night in Canada gave the McKegney family a shout out during the Saturday night broadcast, recognizing McKegney as part of Black History month. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. 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. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? McKegney would remain with the Sabres through the 1982-83 season before enjoying a lengthy NHL career that took him across the United States and into Canada. It's like a catch-22.". WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. After completing the 1990-91 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tony would spend a season in Italy with HC Varese as well as three games with the Canadian National Team. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Tony McKegney As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Tony McKegney. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. TM: I had several concussions, so thats not been a good scenario for me. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database.

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