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"We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Jarome Iginla. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. 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. 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. Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? Its basically black children. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . 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. Overall, his NHL career saw him appear in 912 regular season games and accrue 639 points. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. In Tony's second stint in Quebec, he played in 98 games for the team until January 29, 1991 when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jacques Cloutier. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Go beyond the basics. When Saunderswas still a teenager, the family moved back to Quebec, to Chteauguay a town on Montreal's South Shore with a strong hockey tradition. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. 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. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). But he was reassigned to the minors. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Id like to make the best of the last couple of years.. All Rights Reserved. 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). 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. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 - YouTube 0:00 / 0:44 Tony McKegney Goal vs. Toronto 12/13/80 Disengage 1.53K subscribers Subscribe 947 views 8 years ago Tony McKegney ties the game. Saunders says Demers is one of the people who taught him the work ethic and discipline that carried him until he lost his enthusiasm for the game. 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. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. 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. 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. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". An error has occurred while trying to update your details. 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? As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. Jonathan freaked out. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney 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. His best season came with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88, when he had NHL career highs of 40 goals and 78 points. Tony McKegney was born in Montreal, Canada. I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. 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. BIOGRAPHY. So Bassin gave him that chance. One was Saunders. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. He is to appear in court in Belleville, Ontario, on May 18. 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. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. It's like a catch-22.". Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. "It was just time. Things just felt right that year. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. 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. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. TM: We never really talked about it much. "It felt like they were ripping out my heart. Bailey has appeared in three games with the Canucks this season and was placed on injured reserve on February 12 with an upper-body injury. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Enter Search Term. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. They were there for me for the most part. On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. After scoring eight goals in 52 games as a rookie in 1978-79, he scored 23 in his second NHL season 37 in 1980-81. Saunders says it's tremendous. Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. 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. The McKegney brothers (l-r), Mike, Tony, Ian and friends on their backyard rink in Sarnia, Ontario in 1962. While in Fredericton, he says the coach told him he may play a couple dozen games at the NHL level, but his main role would be to tutor the other players. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? 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. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. So I did the only thing I could do: I focused on perseverance. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. tony mckegney family https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images . And I said to myself, Geez, this is great. It was awesome to see these guys and theyre all good players. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. Boards and the whole thing. Join our linker program. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. 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. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. 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. In retrospect, I can now see how it was an important milestone for people who look like me: No Black player had ever scored 40 goals in a season not until that game against Winnipeg, where a little chip-in ended up making history. 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. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) John Kreiser, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. McKegney recalls no special obstacles for him or his two adoptive brothers, who are also black, as they were growing up with a racially mixed family in a city of 50,000.