He says he has moved on. 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. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. . He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. 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. Did that ever dissuade you at all from getting into the game? Saunders says he is happy and has had a good life, thanks in large part to the sport that broke his heart. There is one number, though, that says a lot about the season I had in 1987-88. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. Dont forget to read the Q&A we did with several Black players who spent time with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Go inside the Hockey Reference Database. Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) "Everything Bernie Saunders has, he earned, in spite of [whether] there's been prejudice along the way.". Approaching the All-Star break, McKegney led the club with 26 goals. Saunders was born in Montreal in 1956. 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. Or write about sports? I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. One was Saunders. 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. So, there was a lot of black athletes in town in Buffalo. Its just something I never envisioned when I was growing up seeing five black hockey players playing in the same game. And the support I got from teammates just carried me through some difficult situations. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. It's the kind of impact that wins, losses, and point totals can't capture. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. But I always wanted to be, and knew I could be, a dominant player. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. SPORTSNET: What was your first exposure to the game of hockey? 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. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. The people in our hometown of Sarnia, Ont., were so supportive through sports. 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. I loved basketball, football, baseball, golf. 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. 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 continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. Highlighting Black players throughout Buffalo Sabres history. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Look, there's a Black player who did what some people said he couldn't. We use cookies to improve your experience. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. Year By Year Fight Totals. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Browse 82 tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Jarrett won the scoring title and says he couldn't have done it without Saunders at his side. 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. "I was just this shy, quiet kid in Chteauguay. Position: LW Shoots: Left. He vowed his sons would never play, but his eldest, Jonathan, had other plans. He is 64 years old. And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. I know there werent very many [black players]. He played in Detroit for only 14 games before being traded back to the Quebec Nordiques on December 4, 1989 in exchange for Robert Picard and Greg Adams. Other blacks are forward Dirk Graham of the Minnesota North Stars, goaltender Eldon Pokey Reddick and forward Paul Neufeld of the Winnipeg Jets. Tony McKegney player profile, stats and championships. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:33AM. It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. Saunders was a shy, quiet kid with a remarkable work ethic, Bassin recalls. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. . That's the biggest compliment for me.". It barely made it over the line. But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. I remember I was tired when a shot from the point came my way. 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). Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Drafted 1974, 1 #2 overall by Kingston Canadians in the OHL Priority Selection, Cult/Star player for Kingston Frontenacs. Saunders said at the time, O'Ree was more of a mythical figure than anything else. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Hockey Reference Database. (Tony McKegney, the fourth black player, debuted in 1978). 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. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. TM: No, not really. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. 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 . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. But sometimes it comes back to haunt you. BIOGRAPHY. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. Fast forward to 1987-88, and my performance in the NHL was helping to prove the stereotypes wrong. He is also aware of his role-model responsibilities as one of only five blacks currently playing in the league. It was a simple chip-in that just dribbled through the goalie's pads. But he was reassigned to the minors. TM: It just made me want to be better. It was never published. That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. Born 1958-02-15 in Montral, Quebec. It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. We were all set to move, until the homeowner told us there was a problem: They didn't want to rent to us once they found out we were a biracial couple. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls. The things he went through were things I experienced in my time. All Rights Reserved. McKegney still does alumni work for the Sabres and Red Wings. There was nothing special about the goal. TONY MCKEGNEY: I was adopted when I was 18 months old and I moved [in with my adoptive family]. Bernie Saunders, one of the NHL's first black players, never thought he would find himself coaching youth hockey. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. You have permission to edit this article. TM: I liked all sports. But it wasn't to be. I was at a Queens University hockey game. Like I said, numbers never tell the whole story. And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. Lightning | Game 61, Sabres Acquire Jordan Greenway, Austin Strand. Thats the greatest compliments Ive received from the younger people. A centre, he said the way they clicked on the ice was as though they'd been playing together forever. Born: February 15,1958 inMontreal,Quebec ca, Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32ndoverall), 1978NHLAmateur. 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. Saunders spent most of his career thinking he was the only black player out there. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. My dad felt he could do something for the amount of kids that were homeless or without parents per se.. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Tony McKegney (front, second from r.) and his Sarnia Bees teammates of the Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League in 1973. Tony McKegney. Its basically black children. I tried to, basically, suppress a lot of those feelings back then, and I just buried a lot of things. 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. The key is for him to keep working.. Tony McKegneny (c.) with his sons, Dan (l.), and Robert. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! 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). {{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. 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. Saunders was sent back to the minors, without any explanation. Youre a great player. When sports are at their best, that's what they can do. My mother and father -- who adopted me from an orphanage in Montreal, and who happen to be white -- built a hockey rink in our backyard every winter, where I'd skate with my siblings. 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. Hes been an All-Star. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. (approx 1 - 2 per week). We only use official stats. Check out the Black Girl Hockey Club, a non-profit organization that focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black women, their family, friends and allies.