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. "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. A t-shirt with this logo is available for purchase here, with a portion of proceeds going to Breaking Barriers. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. Former NHL star McKegney conflicted by USA Hockey hiring of 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. He was also able to open doors and create a level of acceptance for young black players who could point to him and his contemporaries as successes. Tony McKegney | Ice Hockey Wiki | Fandom Your existing password has not been changed. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. 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. Youre going to do well in the NHL. I just praised him, knowing that he was a great player and he was going to play in the NHL for a long time. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. Tony McKegney - Wikipedia After playing in 64 games for the Rangers, Tony was traded to the St. Louis Blues on May 28, 1987 along with Rob Whistle in exchange for Bruce Bell and future considerations. People weren't used to seeing a Black player succeed on the ice. TM: It just made me want to be better. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. More Tony McKegney videos. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. All rights reserved. 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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. 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). Buy his book. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. In fact, I think their parents were thinking about saying, Look, why dont you just go play soccer, because it was so bad as far as the remarks. His father eventually returned to Nigeria, and when Tony was a year old, he was adopted by the McKegneys, a white couple that lived in Sarnia, Ontario. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. 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. "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.". Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. We use cookies to improve your experience. They're too neat; too objective. Do you have a blog? His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. Saunders says it's tremendous. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. They were there for me for the most part. And I still struggle with that to this day, with the trauma that I faced and went through. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. 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. 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. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Showing Editorial results for sabres tony mckegney. However, the team now had a new farm team, the Fredericton Express, and the organization wanted Saunders to play there. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. The key is for him to keep working.. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. 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 *} Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Amateur Teams: Kingston Canadians. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Tony McKegney Wiki, Biography, Net Worth, Age, Family, Facts and More Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". "It was just time. Gambling problem? 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. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! Buffalo was very interesting because we hung around with the football players. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: Enter your email address to get a new one. Tony McKegney Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family The more hockey lives up to those ideals, the better we'll all be. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. I was too timid to talk to a girl. 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. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). Submit changes (incorrect DOB, missing stats, incorrect stats, social media links etc) using a web form and we will review your update request within 24 hours and update accordingly. There was nothing special about the goal. Sherry Bassin, 80, is a former junior hockey executive and another person who helped shape Saunders as a hockey player and a person. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Tony McKegney - Net Worth February 2023, Salary, Age, Siblings, Bio
Is Javin Hunter Married, Articles T