Who was the first Black player to top 40 goals in an NHL season? I went to [Daley] and said, Hey, how are you doing and how are you feeling? I just wanted to reach out and say, Been there, just keep at it. (OHL). 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). 2023 Getty Images. Sabres Memories is presented by BCBSWNY. 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. Sign up for EP Premium and verify your profile to access these benefits. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. SN: When you got to the league was it a lonely existence for you? Former NHL star sent to jail | The Kingston Whig Standard While in Minnesota, Tony played for the organization for 3 years until November 13, 1986 when he was traded to the New York Rangers along with Curt Giles and Minnesota's second-round pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bob Brooke and Minnesota's fourth-round choice in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He paved the way for me. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". 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. Instead, he was drafted 32nd-overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1978 and went on to score over 320 goals. Do you have a blog? 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. Tony McKegney | Ice Hockey Wiki | Fandom Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. Tony McKegney was born on February 15, 1958. Back in 1988, I'm not sure if I realized what it really meant. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. Tony McKegney is a member of famous Ice Hockey list. When I came along, obviously there were comments made, but I was so focused on what was happening on the ice. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Saunders didn't seem bitter or disappointed about not quite making it in the NHL, Jarrett said. His point production dropped off, but he was still eventually called up to the big club. But while Saunders was playing the role of helping others, he believes the Habs didn't really have any incentive to help him, since the team had its own players to develop. Tony McKegney had 320 goals over his career. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? (approx 1 - 2 per week). 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. 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. 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. Join our linker program. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. Last seen in the 1992-1993 season with the San Diego Gulls (IHL). Hes been an All-Star. Black History Month spotlight: McKegney opens doors, fills nets Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. Why did you feel like that was necessary? McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. So Bassin gave him that chance. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. 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. He heard the N-word on the ice and from fans in the stands, and opponents always made sure to finish their checks on him. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. He went to New Brunswick, feeling discouraged but not ready to give up. All Rights Reserved. I suppressed a lot of things over the years. Clearly, Jarome recognized that the 'typical' hockey player could be anyone who loves the game and plays it well. 32) of the 1978 NHL Draft. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. I remember the dedication that my parents put into it when we were younger, driving us to rinks at 7 in the morning, he said. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. A couple of weeks ago, Ron MacLean from Hockey Night in Canada gave the McKegney family a shout out during the Saturday night broadcast, recognizing McKegney as part of Black History month. Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. 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. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. 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. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Jarome told me that he felt comfortable at the school yard because he could point to me and say, "Look, Tony McKegney's playing in the NHL.". Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. However, the Bills' statement does not specify that Frazi. So, for me, there were just so many good influences. Youre a great player. Former Sabres player charged for violating order of protection We had a hockey rink, actually, in our back yard that my parents made each year.. 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. NHL Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. SN: How has it impacted you as youve moved on from the game? Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. 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. I take my hat off to Grant. 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. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular season's 80 games. They're too neat; too objective. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". 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. 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. But on the. "We were so influenced by Hockey Night in Canada," he said, of himself and John. 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. I remember starting the season with 10 goals in the first 15 games and getting a lot of ice time. More Tony McKegney videos. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. 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. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. He says he has moved on. I wanted to be the best hockey player from my hometown. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). He was the fifth black man to play in the league. SN: How did it make you feel when you saw it? Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. TM: I just would tell them to persevere. Odds & lines subject to change. One of his teammates even offered to rent his apartment to Saunders, thinking he would need one since he'd be there long term. "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.". Enter your email address to get a new one. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. He jumped to the AHLs Hershey Bears and then the Sabres, making his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. 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? Tony McKegney was bom in Montreal, Quebec, in February of 1958 to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Im sure it affected me. Tony McKegney - Hockey Fights - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) McKegney was selected 32nd overall in 1978 after scoring 92 points with the Kingston Canadians. Hockey was like that for me -- I was constantly focused on numbers. 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. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. McKegney scored 31 goals in 1986-87, 29 of them after being traded to the New York Rangers. "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". That's the biggest compliment for me.". INDIANAPOLIS Along with the change in defensive coordinator with Leslie Frazier deciding to "take a step back," Bills General Manager Brando, The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge, Frazier, who turns 64 in April, plans to return to coaching in 2024, the Bills said. * Some data is missing to provide a correct summary. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. 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. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. 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. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Then the Buffalo Braves were there, the basketball team. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Tony McKegney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. He signed with the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association, but that news generated a great deal of hate mail, etc., in the South. Lightning. McKegney was supposed to play in the WHA for the Birmingham Bulls, but the team illegally voided his deal after fans in Alabama threatened a boycott. Part one focused on diversity and race in hockey, while part two reflected back on their time with the Sabres/Amerks. It was a personal best for me -- the first and only time I'd join the NHL's 40-goal club. I ignored that coach, of course. Still, I'd been thinking about that particular goal mark for a while. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? Or write about sports? While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. 1989-1990 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1987-1988 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (4) 1986-1987 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) 1985-1986 Postseason Fight Card NHL (2) 1983-1984 Regular Season Fight Card NHL (1) the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. Things just felt right that year. I showed up there and I remember sitting on my adoptive mother's knee and looking out the dining . You have permission to edit this article. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. - Improve your search rank Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. They were around five and six years old. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. All rights reserved. So, I reached out. Of course, sports will never make us color blind, and colorblindness is not the goal. by 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. 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. Transaction information may be incomplete. But it wasn't to be. Tony McKegney. 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. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. 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). Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. 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. 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. Please contact us. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? He is not dating anyone. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. 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. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! It was like, all the emotions from my career, my life: it was too much for me," the elder Saunders said. 'I loved the game, but the game didn't love me': How hockey shaped one of NHL's first black players on and off the ice | CBC News Loaded. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. McKegney has remained in the NHL largely because of his skating skills, his durability and the steadiness he mentioned. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Relatives: Brother Ian McKegney. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. Q&A: Tony McKegney on the NHL's overlooked generation of black players The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Tony was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. They were playing Ottawa and there were five black players in the game on the two teams combined. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Following his time in Buffalo, he spent two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, then made stops in Minnesota (North Stars), New York (Rangers), St. Louis and Detroit before finding his way back to Quebec. of 1 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. 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. It barely made it over the line. 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. 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. All rights reserved. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. Former Buffalo Sabre Tony McKegney charged with violating order of Some may find that number low. 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. by They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. 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. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. Data Provided By It made me angry, made me sad. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. Gambling problem? Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. We didn't recognize that password reset code. 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. Judge to former NHLer Tony McKegney: 'You were a danger to yourself' On June 15, 1989, Tony was traded to the Detroit Red Wings along with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney And my brother was four years older than me and and took a lot more abuse than I did. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? I just had this conversation with one of my former teammates, and he said, We just treated you like one of us brothers.. You sort of never felt like you were different. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. / Special to NHL.com, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. I always said that the game is tough enough as it is just trying to survive and make it outside of having that stuff on the sidelines. 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. Enter Search Term. He learned to fight, to defend himself, but mainly he tried to keep scoring. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. SN: When you were playing hockey as youngster, there werent many black faces for you to see when you watched NHL games on Saturday nights. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. He believes he could have had a 10-year career in the NHL if he had been given a proper shot. McKegney left the NHL after 1990-91 with 639 points (320 goals, 319 assists). [RELATED: Black History Month coverage |Hockey Is For Everyone coverage]. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. I didnt talk to many people about it. It appears the Sabres have made a few late deals. Tony Mckegney - ABC7 Chicago That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. (Born onFebruary 15, 1958) -- Tony McKegney was something of a pioneer in the world of hockey. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. 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.