Serge Savard
Encyclopedia
Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC
, CQ
(born January 22, 1946) is a retired professional ice hockey
defenceman
, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He is also a local businessman in Montreal
, and is nicknamed the Senator.
. After playing with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens, he started playing with the Montreal Canadiens in 1966. In 1968–69, his second full NHL season, he led the Canadiens to a second consecutive Stanley Cup
win, becoming the first defencemen to win the Conn Smythe Trophy
as the playoffs' most valuable player. In seventeen seasons with the Canadiens, Savard played on eight Stanley Cup championship teams: 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. In 1979, he won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
for perseverance and dedication to the game. Savard played the last two seasons of his career with the Winnipeg Jets before retiring in 1983. Savard was the second last player of the Original Six
era, as Wayne Cashman
and his Boston Bruins
advanced to the next round of the playoffs, while Winnipeg did not.
The "Savardian Spin-o-rama", which is a quick pivoting turn with the puck done in order to evade opponents, was coined by Danny Gallivan
and named after Serge Savard, and not Denis Savard
(who was adept at the same manoeuvre) as is often thought.
Savard played for Canada in the 1972 Summit Series
.
with Sherbrooke in 1985. In 1986 and 1993 he was the general manager of the Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens.
In 1994 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 2004 he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
. He is currently the chairman of the annual Canada Day
festivities in Montreal. He lived a few years in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec
. His son Marc ran for the Liberal Party in the riding of Saint-Bruno-Saint-Hubert in the 2005 federal election but lost.
In 1998, he was ranked number 81 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
He is a partner in a firm of real-estate developers, "Thibault, Messier, Savard & Associates", based in Montreal.
In September 2004, Savard was arrested in Montreal under suspicion of drunk driving. He pleaded not guilty in November 2004, but would later plead guilty in May 2006.
On November 18, 2006, the Montreal Canadiens retired his jersey number (18) in a special ceremony at Bell Centre
.
Also, he was part owner in a resort called El Senador
located in Cayo Coco
, Cuba
until it was sold in 2005. The name was a reference to his nickname.
He also is a part owner with his son Serge Savard Jr in the PEI Rocket hockey club.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, CQ
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(born January 22, 1946) is a retired professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He is also a local businessman in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and is nicknamed the Senator.
Playing career
Savard played minor league hockey with the Montreal Junior Canadiens, then with the Omaha KnightsOmaha Knights
The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League...
. After playing with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens, he started playing with the Montreal Canadiens in 1966. In 1968–69, his second full NHL season, he led the Canadiens to a second consecutive Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
win, becoming the first defencemen to win the Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as the playoffs' most valuable player. In seventeen seasons with the Canadiens, Savard played on eight Stanley Cup championship teams: 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. In 1979, he won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one...
for perseverance and dedication to the game. Savard played the last two seasons of his career with the Winnipeg Jets before retiring in 1983. Savard was the second last player of the Original Six
Original Six
The Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. These six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the...
era, as Wayne Cashman
Wayne Cashman
Wayne Cashman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and a former NHL head coach.-Playing career:Cashman played his junior hockey as a teammate of Bobby Orr's on the Oshawa Generals of the OHA...
and his Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
advanced to the next round of the playoffs, while Winnipeg did not.
The "Savardian Spin-o-rama", which is a quick pivoting turn with the puck done in order to evade opponents, was coined by Danny Gallivan
Danny Gallivan
Danny Gallivan was a Canadian radio and television broadcaster and sportscaster.-Early life and career:Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Gallivan began his broadcast career at a local radio station in Antigonish, Nova Scotia while attending St. Francis Xavier University...
and named after Serge Savard, and not Denis Savard
Denis Savard
Denis Joseph Savard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1997, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000...
(who was adept at the same manoeuvre) as is often thought.
Savard played for Canada in the 1972 Summit Series
Summit Series
The Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
.
Post-playing career
After Savard retired as a player, he was named the general manager of the Canadiens, also serving as Manager of minor league team Sherbrooke Canadiens. Savard won the Calder CupCalder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
with Sherbrooke in 1985. In 1986 and 1993 he was the general manager of the Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens.
In 1994 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2004 he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
. He is currently the chairman of the annual Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
festivities in Montreal. He lived a few years in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec
Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec
Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence River just east of Montreal. It lies on the west flank of Mont Saint-Bruno, one the Monteregian Hills. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 24,388...
. His son Marc ran for the Liberal Party in the riding of Saint-Bruno-Saint-Hubert in the 2005 federal election but lost.
In 1998, he was ranked number 81 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
He is a partner in a firm of real-estate developers, "Thibault, Messier, Savard & Associates", based in Montreal.
In September 2004, Savard was arrested in Montreal under suspicion of drunk driving. He pleaded not guilty in November 2004, but would later plead guilty in May 2006.
On November 18, 2006, the Montreal Canadiens retired his jersey number (18) in a special ceremony at Bell Centre
Bell Centre
The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...
.
Also, he was part owner in a resort called El Senador
El Senador
El Senador was a luxury 4-star resort located in Cayo Coco, Cuba. It was owned as a joint venture between Cubanacan, a Cuban tourism company, and a syndicate of Canadian businesses. In December 2005 the Canadians sold their interest to an Anglo-Dutch syndicate, and the owners engaged the Spanish...
located in Cayo Coco
Cayo Coco
Cayo Coco is an island in central Cuba, well known for its luxurious all inclusive resorts. It lies within the Ciego de Ávila Province and is part of a chain of islands called Jardines del Rey . The cay is administered by the Morón municipality. It is named for the white ibis, locally called Coco...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
until it was sold in 2005. The name was a reference to his nickname.
He also is a part owner with his son Serge Savard Jr in the PEI Rocket hockey club.
Awards
- Won Conn Smythe TrophyConn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
- 19691969 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1969 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series played from April 27 to May 4, 1969, between the defending champions Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues, the same finalists as in 1968. The Canadiens would win the series in four-straight games.... - Named an NHL Second-Team All-Star - 1979
- Played in 4 NHL All-Star GamesNational Hockey League All-Star GameThe National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
(197023rd National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 23rd National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, home of the St. Louis Blues, on January 20, 1970. It was the first time the All-Star Game was held at the St. Louis Arena. The East Division All-Stars defeated the West Division All-Stars 4–1...
, 197326th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 26th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in the Madison Square Garden in New York City, home of the New York Rangers, on January 30, 1973. It was the first time that the All-Star Game was held in New York. The East Division All-Stars defeated the West Division All-Stars 5–4...
, 197730th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe Wales Conference All-Star team defeated the Campbell Conference for the third consecutive year. Rick Martin scored two goals in the third period including the game winning goal with under two minutes to play, and was voted most valuable player....
, 197831st National Hockey League All-Star GameThe Wales Conference All-Star team defeated the Campbell Conference for the fourth consecutive year. Gilbert Perreault scored at 3:35 of sudden death overtime for the winning goal...
) - Played in the 1979 Challenge Cup1979 Challenge CupThe 1979 Challenge Cup was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of all-stars from the National Hockey League, held in New York City. It replaced the NHL's all-star festivities for the 1978–79 NHL season.The Challenge Cup, unlike its...
- Won Bill Masterton Memorial TrophyBill Masterton Memorial TrophyThe Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one...
- 1979 - Inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
- 1986 - In 1998, he was ranked number 81 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1963–64 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | OHA Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
56 | 3 | 31 | 34 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Omaha Knights Omaha Knights The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League... |
CPHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1965–65 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | OHA | 56 | 14 | 33 | 47 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1965–66 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | OHA | 46 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966–67 | Houston Apollos | CPHL CPHL CPHL may refer to:*Central Hockey League , a minor pro ice hockey league that operated in North America*Canadian Professional Hockey League, a minor pro league that operated predominantly in Canada from 1926 through 1929... |
68 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 155 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | ||
| 1966–67 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966–67 1966–67 AHL season The 1966–67 AHL season was the 31st season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Pittsburgh Hornets finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship since being resurrected in 1961–62... |
Quebec Aces Quebec Aces The Quebec Aces, also known in French as Les As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec. The Aces were founded in 1928, and played until 1971. The team played home games at the Quebec Coliseum from 1930 to 1971.The Aces were Allan Cup... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 67 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 74 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 73 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 24 | ||
| 1969–70 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 64 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 37 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 23 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 1972–73 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 74 | 7 | 32 | 39 | 58 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 22 | ||
| 1973–74 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 67 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 49 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1974–75 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 20 | 40 | 60 | 64 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1975–76 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 71 | 8 | 39 | 47 | 38 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 1976–77 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 35 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1977–78 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 8 | 34 | 42 | 24 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 1978–79 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 30 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 1979–80 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 46 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1980–81 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1981–82 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 47 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1982–83 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 76 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 1040 | 106 | 333 | 439 | 592 | 130 | 19 | 49 | 68 | 88 | ||||