In the history of the NHL, no team has had more black players play on the ice than the Buffalo Sabres. It's an impressive feat for the organization as black history month is upon us.
Many great black players have graced the ice for Buffalo from Grant Fuhr to Mike Grier to Justin Bailey. The first was a draft pick for the organization, Tony McKegney.
McKegney was drafted 32nd overall by Buffalo in 1978. He would go on to have an impressive career in the NHL with both the Sabres and other organizations in the league.
He spent the most time with the Sabres, playing his first five years in the NHL in Buffalo. In his five seasons for the Sabres, he had 127 goals and 208 points in the regular season.
Believe it or not, the Sabres used to be a perennial team vying for the Stanley Cup and were in the postseason almost yearly. McKegney played in the postseason every year he was with Buffalo.
In his rookie season, he played in 14 games during the postseason, scoring seven goals. The Sabres lost in the quarter finals to the Minnesota North Stars.
In his second season, in the 1980-1981 season, he had his most goals while with the Sabres.
He scored 37 on the season and helped lead Buffalo to their second straight division title. It was the last time the Sabres have won back-to-back division titles.
After being traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1983, he bounced around the NHL , but still provided his best season. In the 1987-1988 season he had 40 goals on the year while with the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first black player to achieve the feat.
In an essay for NHL.com in 2021, the Canadian born player spoke of his time in the league and the issues he endured as a person of color in the NHL.
"I'm certainly proud to have been one of the first consistent Black players in the NHL," said McKegney in the essay.
He retired in 1991 and has since become a part of both Sabres history and their alumni program. He actively participates in games involving the Buffalo Sabres alumni hockey team.
He left a rich history in the league and set the standard for prominent goal scorers who were people of color. Players such as PK Subban and Quinton Byfield owe a debt of gratitude.