Marc Savard’s career was tragically cut short after multiple concussions forced him out of the game. In a gut-wrenching column from Stan Grossfeld of the Boston Globe, Savard discussed his post-playing career.
He admitted he shed a tear when he knew his career was over following a hit from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Matt Hunwick. Savard said he missed the competitive spirit of the game.
“I’m 39,” he said. “I still should be playing, right? I miss it. I was an intense player when I played. I just miss the competition.”
Savard discussed battling depression and anxiety related to concussions. He said he was a “zombie” for three months following a blindside hit by Matt Cooke. Savard said he never heard from Cooke after he said he wasn’t ready to talk to him the night of the incident.
“I wasn’t in any mood to talk to him that night, so I never talked to him,” said Savard. “I never heard from him.”
Savard is now the head coach of the AAA Bantam Petes where his son Tyler plays. While he’s still dealing with issues related to concussions, but seems to be in a better place. He told the Globe he’s going to donate his brain to science to study the effects of CTE when he passes away.
Read the full feature in the Globe. All the best to Savard on his post-career.
