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Where are they now? Denis Savard
MONTREAL | October 21st, 2014
Autres articles
The Canadiens didn’t pile up 100 years of history without the blood, sweat and tears of the over 750 players to have ever worn the uniform. From the likes of Donald Audette to Zarley Zalapski, there are former Habs scattered all over the world. Although many hardcore Canadiens fans can rattle off the career accomplishments of hundreds of their old heroes, the question remains: what are these guys up to today? On the hot seat today: Denis Savard.
Where are you currently living?
I’ve been living in Chicago for several years now, ever since I retired from hockey back in 1997.
What are you up to these days?
I got into the food business a few years ago, became a food broker, and I’ve been doing that ever since. I represent several grocery stores and we advise them on the products they should stock. I also have my own brand of frozen pizzas called, Savy’s Pizza. I had a few friends of mine who are presidents of supermarkets tell me that if a created my own line of pizzas, they’d sell them in their stores. I wasn’t really sure at first, but I went ahead and tried it, and things have been going great. The younger kids that eat my pizzas don’t know about the fact that I was in the NHL, so they just call me the “Pizza Man”.
How many times per year do you still lace up the skates?
I get involved in charity games with the Blackhawks and the Canadiens alumni every now and then. In Chicago, I’m involved in some minor hockey programs, so I manage to jump on the ice with the kids here and there.
Do you often get asked to do a “spin-o-rama”?
People ask me all the time!
Do you still stay in touch with any of your former Habs teammates?
I really do my best to stay in contact with those guys. I’m still close with Guy Carbonneau, so we talk often enough. I also recently spoke with Vincent Damphousse.
Do you still follow the Canadiens?
Absolutely. I’m always keeping an eye on what’s going on in Montreal. I grew up not too far from there. Now that my friend, Michel Therrien is back as the team’s head coach and Marc Bergervin has stepped in as GM, I’ll probably be following them even more closely.
Where do you keep your Stanley Cup ring?
I have it at home, but I don’t wear it all that often. I got one from the Blackhawks from their 2010 championship that I wear a little more frequently. I’m an ambassador for the Blackhawks in Chicago, so people here know that one better.
Other than your ring, do you have a favorite piece of Canadiens memorabilia that you’ve kept over the years?
I’ve kept pretty much everything, but I’d have to say my favorite is the jersey I wore during the Stanley Cup finals in 1993.
Is there a game that you played in during your time with the Canadiens that sticks out in your mind?
That would be my first game with the Canadiens at the Forum. We won it 6-5 over Buffalo and I got a goal and an assist. I’ll never forget that one. There was this photo near the entrance to the dressing room of one of the old Stanley Cup parades in Montreal. I would always look at it and think about how much fun it would be to experience something like that. I got the chance to do it three years later.
Where are you currently living?
I’ve been living in Chicago for several years now, ever since I retired from hockey back in 1997.
What are you up to these days?
I got into the food business a few years ago, became a food broker, and I’ve been doing that ever since. I represent several grocery stores and we advise them on the products they should stock. I also have my own brand of frozen pizzas called, Savy’s Pizza. I had a few friends of mine who are presidents of supermarkets tell me that if a created my own line of pizzas, they’d sell them in their stores. I wasn’t really sure at first, but I went ahead and tried it, and things have been going great. The younger kids that eat my pizzas don’t know about the fact that I was in the NHL, so they just call me the “Pizza Man”.
How many times per year do you still lace up the skates?
I get involved in charity games with the Blackhawks and the Canadiens alumni every now and then. In Chicago, I’m involved in some minor hockey programs, so I manage to jump on the ice with the kids here and there.
Do you often get asked to do a “spin-o-rama”?
People ask me all the time!
Do you still stay in touch with any of your former Habs teammates?
I really do my best to stay in contact with those guys. I’m still close with Guy Carbonneau, so we talk often enough. I also recently spoke with Vincent Damphousse.
Do you still follow the Canadiens?
Absolutely. I’m always keeping an eye on what’s going on in Montreal. I grew up not too far from there. Now that my friend, Michel Therrien is back as the team’s head coach and Marc Bergervin has stepped in as GM, I’ll probably be following them even more closely.
Where do you keep your Stanley Cup ring?
I have it at home, but I don’t wear it all that often. I got one from the Blackhawks from their 2010 championship that I wear a little more frequently. I’m an ambassador for the Blackhawks in Chicago, so people here know that one better.
Other than your ring, do you have a favorite piece of Canadiens memorabilia that you’ve kept over the years?
I’ve kept pretty much everything, but I’d have to say my favorite is the jersey I wore during the Stanley Cup finals in 1993.
Is there a game that you played in during your time with the Canadiens that sticks out in your mind?
That would be my first game with the Canadiens at the Forum. We won it 6-5 over Buffalo and I got a goal and an assist. I’ll never forget that one. There was this photo near the entrance to the dressing room of one of the old Stanley Cup parades in Montreal. I would always look at it and think about how much fun it would be to experience something like that. I got the chance to do it three years later.