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. 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. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres 52nd overall in 2013 and began his pro career with the Sabres and Amerks. 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. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. 2023 Getty Images. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Carbonneau, a Hall of Famer who played and coached for the Canadiens and now works as an analyst, remembers Saunders as an honest player and hard worker someone who could do pretty much anything on the ice and served as a veteran presence on the team. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. I was at a Queens University hockey game. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, City mourns Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno as investigation into fatal fire launches, Buffalo firefighter makes 'ultimate sacrifice' in blaze that may have sparked backdraft, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Vandal damages 'brokenhearted' Russell Salvatore's tribute park in Lancaster, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. 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. 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. It barely made it over the line. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. 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. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). 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. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. 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. "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. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Hes had the most success. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. Want to more about Him? Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. Data Provided By I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. This is especially true for a sport like hockey, where community, respect, and teamwork have always been important values. You have permission to edit this article. He is 64 years old. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. Buy his book. One house seemed perfect for me and my wife, Sue. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". 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. 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. And I followed the advice that the great Willie O'Ree has given so many times: channel your energy into lighting the red light. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? It made me angry, made me sad. 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. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. - Improve your search rank Jonathan freaked out. 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. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. BIOGRAPHY. 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. - Ability to add additional data to your career profile: Videos, Images, Social Media, Referrals, Fitness Testing Results and much more! He has a copy of a newspaper article following a game in Rochester, N.Y., that mentions a fan who heard people yelling the N-word at him all night. I know there werent very many [black players]. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. He has three 30-goal seasons. The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 66 games with Kingston of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1976-77 and 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games the following season, when he also played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. It's like a catch-22.". Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. But hockey was a window of opportunity because we saw people from our area making it. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. 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. But it wasn't to be. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. 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. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. At the same time, he's disappointed that he's been excluded from conversations about the first black players in the NHL. 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. 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. "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. You reached out to him afterwards. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. I just felt defeated," 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. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. But I cherish everything about that goal that found my stick in the last minute of the last game of my 1987-88 season with the St. Louis Blues. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) And the NHL has done a great job with helping. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. Odds & lines subject to change. Complete player biography and stats. by There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. 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. Some may find that number low. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. 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. All Rights Reserved. Gambling problem? Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls.