It’s been more than six years since Matt Cooke delivered the hit that essentially ended former Boston Bruin Marc Savard’s NHL career. And while he’s had ample time to apologize, Cooke reportedly has never extended that courtesy to Savard.
Cooke, a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the time, attempted to call Savard after the March 2010 game, but hasn’t tried since.
“I wasn’t in any mood to talk to him that night, so I never talked to him,” Savard told Stan Grossfeld of The Boston Globe. “I never heard from him.”
After an extended absence, Savard returned the following season, but he suffered another concussion after a hit from former Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Hunwick, and he hasn’t played since. But most fans point to the Cooke hit as the more egregious of the two, and Savard’s recollection of it is pretty scary.
“I can remember Donny (trainer Don DelNegro) coming out,” Savard said. “I said, ‘Donny, I don’t know what’s wrong here, but I’m dying. I can’t see anything.’ And my eyes were open, so I was quite scared there.”
Savard, now 39, is the head coach of the Peterborough Minor Bantam AAA Petes, and his 13-year-old son, Tyler Savard, plays hockey and wears No. 91 like his dad.
Thumbnail photo via YouTube/Theoryneutral
