Summit Series opened eyes around the world, says Canadian great Savard

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Former Montreal Canadiens great defenseman Serge Savard said the Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union was the first step in hockey becoming a major international sport.

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“In 1972, hockey was a regional game,” Savard said Tuesday before teeing off at his annual golf tournament at Le Mirage in Terrebonne. “Ninety-five percent of the players (in the NHL) were Canadian. There were no Europeans, there were no Russians, and the Americans were just beginning to play well.

“Immediately after that, we realized that we weren’t alone on the ice, that maybe we should review the way we train,” Savard said. “I remember when we got back, Scotty Bowman was trying new things. He was a pioneer in trying something different and now hockey is international and the players are from everywhere.”

With the 50th anniversary of the Summit Series just around the corner, Savard was one of five members of Team Canada at Le Mirage, joining Marcel Dionne, Peter Mahovlich, Yvan Cournoyer and Guy Lapointe, all agreeing that a moment stood out in his memories. .

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“That was when Henderson scored the goal that put us ahead 6-5 in the last minute,” Dionne said. “I looked at the clock and the score didn’t change, I said ‘what’s going on’. (The Soviets) were in total shock.”

“It’s the biggest goal in hockey history,” Savard said. “If you ask Ken Dryden, Pete Mahovlich or Yvan Cournoyer, it’s the highlight of our career, even more than winning the Stanley Cups. It is something different.

While the series was a battle between two very different political systems, Mahovlich said there was a feeling of mutual respect between the rivals.

“There was a feeling that we weren’t that different, and it’s sad to see what’s happening in the world now with Russia invading Ukraine,” Mahovlich said.

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The tournament also paid tribute to the late Guy Lafleur and many of his teammates were in attendance, including former linemates Steve Shutt and Jacques Lemaire.

Lafleur, who died on April 22 after a long battle with lung cancer, spearheaded a campaign to raise money for cancer research and Savard said his former teammate had asked him shortly before his death to become co-chair of the Center hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal’s fundraising campaign.

“Even at the end of his life, he continued to make a difference to people,” Savard said. “Two weeks before his death, we were still exchanging text messages. Guy would personally call each person who donated $5,000 or more to thank them. It was quite special. What I remember is his humility. He talked to everyone, whether they were a star or a fourth-row player, and he never refused an autograph, as the Béliveaus and the Richards, our role models, did before him. He had the character of great players.”

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One of the highlights of Tuesday night’s dinner was a performance by legendary Quebec singer-songwriter Robert Charlebois, who performed a song dedicated to Lafleur.

The third annual tournament is part of Savard’s commitment to raise funds to help student-athletes at the Université de Sherbrooke.

“When I started this project, the goal was to raise $5 million, and after three years, we’re halfway there,” said Savard, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986. “Last year, we provided about $300,000 in scholarships.”

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