tony mckegney family tony mckegney family

Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. 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. Hes been an All-Star. TM: It just made me want to be better. After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. By midseason, people started to notice. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Part of the reason McKegney wants to continue a while longer is because of sons Daniel, 2 1/2 , and Robert, 7 months. Wikifamouspeople has ranked Tony McKegney as of the . He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. (approx 1 - 2 per week). 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. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? "People just forget me because I didn't play. Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. TM: We never really talked about it much. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . Season Players Videos. One of his greatest disappointments is not being included in conversations about the first black NHL hockey players, but he insists he feels no animosity. 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: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Some may find that number low. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". During his first stint in Quebec, he played for the team until December 14, 1984 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars along with Bo Berglund in exchange for Brad Maxwell and Brent Ashton. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Please contact us. Other than that, I hadnt played against another black hockey player my whole life. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Im sure it affected me. Find out more. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Buy his book. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. There have been 93 black players in the NHL. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. He scored a goal in that game and got a standing ovation from the crowd. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. He is vaguely aware of the recent push to change hockey culture. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Early Life and Family: Education: Tony McKegney Net Worth: McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL. Transaction information may be incomplete. I guess, if you could say, the guy thats done the best is probably Grant Fuhr, McKegney said of the Edmonton goalie. 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. 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. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. 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. Tony McKegney had 639 points over his career. McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. 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. He says he has moved on. 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; Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. So I found myself focused on a number, 40, throughout the last stretch of games. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . The Montreal-born left wing was a big scorer in junior hockey, finishing with 135 points (58 goals . All rights reserved. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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). Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. 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. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). Just like society as a whole, the hockey community still has a lot of hard work to do. Playing hockey at a high level is difficult enough without navigating the pressures of racism in society or figuring out how to respond to the supposed "fan" with a sign that says, "McKegney, grab a basketball" behind the Zamboni entrance. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. Hes won Stanley Cups.. McKegney, while striving to help provide black youths more opportunity, will never forget the chance given him by Lowry McKegney, 70. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) Right before he went to college, Mike Marson and Bill Riley, the second and third black men in the NHL, made their debuts. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. That's how good he was.". Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. My parents had three children of their own, and they adopted three children, he said. Do you have a sports website? Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. When I started in the league, I never would have guessed. His NHL career ended with nine games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1990-91, but he went on to play for the Canadian National Team, overseas in Italy with Varese HC and in the IHL with the San Diego Gulls before hanging up the skates in 1993. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. During my career, I know I tried my hardest not to think about them at all. 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. "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. He talked about him, his brother Ian, and his mother who lives in Kincardine. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Jonathan freaked out. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. I feel that I had a pretty good upbringing. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. Tony McKegney's birthday is on 15-Feb-1958 and was born on Saturday. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. I probably should have, and I never did that. 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. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. That's the biggest compliment for me.". Sorry we could not verify that email address. Join our linker program. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. He played in St. Louis for two years. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. With St. Louis, a team decimated this season by injuries, his presence has been more valued than ever was expected. Want to more about Him? It was never published. My mindset was focused on maintaining a consistent level of play to succeed in the National Hockey League. "I was incredulous. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. There was nothing special about the goal. So, we laughed about it later on over a few beers. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. 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. 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.