Anthony Syiid McKegney (born February 15, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played thirteen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1978–79 until 1990–91.

Career

McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. McKegney was the first Black Canadian hockey player to make an impact in the NHL , and has often been referred to as the Jackie Robinson of professional hockey.

McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted soon thereafter, and raised by a white family in Sarnia, Ontario. At age twenty, McKegney signed a contract with the now defunct World Hockey Association’s (WHA) team in Birmingham, just to see the owner illegally renege on the deal after fans threatened to boycott the team for having added a black player to its roster. However, the WHA’s loss became the NHL’s gain, as McKegney would go on to score over 300 career goals, including 40 in the 1987-88 season. His total of 78 points in the same season would remain the highest ever recorded by a black player until Jarome Iginla’s breakout 2001-2002 campaign. He registered eight 20-goal seasons in a career that lasted over 900 games.

After finishing the 1990-91 with the Chicago Blackhawks, McKegney would spend a season in Italy with AS Varese, as well as three games with the Canadian National Team. He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring.

McKegney currently does periodic work on behalf of the Red Wings Alumni Association and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team.

Achievements and awards

• OMJHL First All-Star Team (1977)
• OMJHL Second All-Star Team (1978)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974–75	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		52	27	48	75	36		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		65	24	56	80	20		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		66	58	77	135	30		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		55	43	49	92	19		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Hershey Bears	AHL		24	21	18	39	4		1	0	0	0	0
1978–79	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		52	8	14	22	10		2	0	1	1	0
1979–80	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		80	23	29	52	24		14	3	4	7	2
1980–81	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		80	37	32	69	24		8	5	3	8	2
1981–82	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		73	23	29	52	41		4	0	0	0	2
1982–83	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		78	36	37	73	18		10	3	1	4	4
1983–84	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		75	24	27	51	23		7	0	0	0	0
1984–85	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		30	12	9	21	12		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		27	11	13	24	4		9	8	6	14	0
1985–86	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		70	15	25	40	48		5	2	1	3	22
1986–87	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		11	2	3	5	16		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	New York Rangers	NHL		64	29	17	46	56		6	0	0	0	12
1987–88	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	40	38	78	82		9	3	6	9	8
1988–89	St. Louis Blues	NHL		71	25	17	42	58		3	0	1	1	0
1989–90	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		14	2	1	3	8		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		48	16	11	27	45		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		50	17	16	33	44		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		9	0	1	1	4		2	0	0	0	4
1992–93	San Diego Gulls	IHL		23	8	5	13	38		3	0	1	1	4
NHL totals				912	320	319	639	517		79	24	23	47	56

References

External links