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; 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. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? 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. 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. 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. Stay tuned to Die By the Blade over the course of the month as we continue to highlight Black players in Buffalo Sabres history. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Brother: Ian McKegney 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. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Jets, Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada: Oilers vs. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? He played six games and didn't score, but played well. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. The next season, his agent Art Kaminsky told him that must have meant the Nordiques wanted to keep him, so he went into training camp intent on making an impression. TM: It just made me want to be better. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. TM: No, not really. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Want to more about Him? Gambling problem? He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? "It was just time. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. But on the ice, Saunders was still alone. But it wasn't to be. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. Why did you feel like that was necessary? Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. All rights reserved. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. '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. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. But the homeowner's and the coach's comments were unwelcomed reminders that people were constantly viewing me through the lens of my race -- even when I just wanted to be a home renter, or a hockey player. 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? Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. Tony McKegney Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts Your existing password has not been changed. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. The Bulls released McKegney from his contract, and he joined the Sabres as their second-round draft choice. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Tony McKegney Makes His Mark in the NHL | AP News They were around five and six years old. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. SN: If you had a chance to talk to the young African-Canadian and African-American kids coming into the game, what would you tell them that you wish youd known? This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Do you have a blog? Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of Saunders decided that was it. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. McKegney, a Montreal native who was raised in Sarnia by his adoptive family, was drafted by the Sabres with the 32nd overall pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. 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. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. Things just felt right that year. Black History Month essay: Tony McKegney | NHL.com After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. So, I reached out. 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. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. 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. Throughout 15 years of professional hockey, I'm lucky enough to say that there are many moments I'm proud of. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. So Bassin gave him that chance. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. He is not dating anyone. Or write about sports? Of course, I also thought about the bonus clause in my contract, which promised $15,000 if I happened to score 40 goals (that was a lot of money in those days). Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. All rights reserved. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mothers knee and looking out the dining room window at this ice rink. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. We use cookies to improve your experience. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Find out more. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. Lightning. Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. 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. 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 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. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Tony McKegney. Its basically black children. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks.
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