Marc Savard: Hell and Back

[Stone Clode]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/marc-savard-bruins-hell-and-back/

"The thing that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy is the moment when you know that it’s all over. Everything you’ve worked for since you were a kid … it’s really over, and you can’t fool yourself anymore."

"Yes, I am glad the hit I took led to some positive changes regarding player safety. Hopefully at some point those hits will be totally out of the game. But the mental aspect of what I went through after the hit was just as brutal as the hit itself.

The anguish of not knowing what was going to become of my life, and my identity, was worse than all the terrible headaches. The crushing anxiety that I experienced was worse than any broken bone."

Tough read, but definitely recommend this to everyone. Marc Savard's article on The Player's Tribune. Such a great player, one of the most exciting Bruins to watch in a while. I know we've all seen the stories and the videos, but its interesting to finally see it all from his perspective.

Thoughts?

Click to read more...

 

[Ratty]

If it's "To Hell and Back", I'd like the "back" be to the Bruins coaching staff. Love too see Savy behind the bench coaching the forwards and the power play. Would do him some good as well, to get back to the game he loves at the ML level.

 

[Lobster57]

**** Matt Cooke

 

[Scotto74]

Wow. really tough to read that.

 

[Bruinaura]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/marc-savard-bruins-hell-and-back/

"The thing that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy is the moment when you know that it’s all over. Everything you’ve worked for since you were a kid … it’s really over, and you can’t fool yourself anymore."

"Yes, I am glad the hit I took led to some positive changes regarding player safety. Hopefully at some point those hits will be totally out of the game. But the mental aspect of what I went through after the hit was just as brutal as the hit itself.

The anguish of not knowing what was going to become of my life, and my identity, was worse than all the terrible headaches. The crushing anxiety that I experienced was worse than any broken bone."

Tough read, but definitely recommend this to everyone. Marc Savard's article on The Player's Tribune. Such a great player, one of the most exciting Bruins to watch in a while. I know we've all seen the stories and the videos, but its interesting to finally see it all from his perspective.

Thoughts?

It's sad that it seems so many players think their entire identity is "hockey player." I understand why they may think that, but it's still sad.

I'm glad the Bruins were able to get his name on the cup. No wonder he still roots for the Bruins on Twitter.

I wonder if he really does have interest in returning as a coach someday.

 

[Ladyfan]

**** Matt Cooke

^this times a million

I too would love to see Marc behind the bench. I have always loved his positive energy. Savvy was so much fun to watch.

He still remains friends with some of the B's and guys who work behind the bench.

Miss you Savvy

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Wow. really tough to read that.

Agree. So sad.

 

[BsEuphoria]

If I wasn't at work, I'd be balling....

 

[Mainehockey33]

It's sad that it seems so many players think their entire identity is "hockey player." I understand why they may think that, but it's still sad.

I'm glad the Bruins were able to get his name on the cup. No wonder he still roots for the Bruins on Twitter.

I wonder if he really does have interest in returning as a coach someday.

He just tweeted about being the power play coach next season maybe a month ago. I'd love to see him back around the team.

 

[Therick67]

He just tweeted about being the power play coach next season maybe a month ago. I'd love to see him back around the team.

Absolutely.

I was at game 1 against Philly when he scored the OT goal, great moment.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Absolutely.

I was at game 1 against Philly when he scored the OT goal, great moment.

For sure. He was always fun to watch and a big reason I became such a die hard fan. I wish they didn't put the gif of that hit in the article, it's just depressing to see it over and over again.

 

[NSBruinFan]

I dealt with post concussion syndrome after being hit with a stick coaching. (Player hit over the boards at bench) It lasted 3 years. I wrote to Savard when he was injured, sharing my story. He mentioned my letter in an ESPN article.
http://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=5900319

It is important for high profile players to talk about their experiences, so average joes with concussions know they are not alone in how they are feeling. I have broken bones playing hockey. Painful, but healed quick. Waking up everyday with concussion symptoms is torture mentally and physically.

 

[NDiesel]

Those last few lines hit me right in the feels :')

 

[BMC]

Damn this dust in my eyes...

oh yeah, **** Matt Cooke too

 

[BMC]

It's sad that it seems so many players think their entire identity is "hockey player." I understand why they may think that, but it's still sad.

I'm glad the Bruins were able to get his name on the cup. No wonder he still roots for the Bruins on Twitter.

I wonder if he really does have interest in returning as a coach someday.

I think this is true of men in general. They think they are what they do and when they can't do it anymore they're in hell.

 

[sarge88]

My daughter is battling her 2nd "mild" concussion of the school year right now. Got the first one in soccer in September and just got this one during softball on Friday.

Nowhere near as serious as what Savvy went through, but you could/can definitely see the difference in her affect and presentation.

More irritable (if that's possible for a 16 year old), low energy, easily frustrated.

Not fun at all and kind of scary as a parent.

 

[ODAAT]

chopping onions here, tough read, great read just tough

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

I miss Savvy.

Hope his hints at being an assistant coach via Twitter come true!

 

[northeastern]

If it's "To Hell and Back", I'd like the "back" be to the Bruins coaching staff. Love too see Savy behind the bench coaching the forwards and the power play. Would do him some good as well, to get back to the game he loves at the ML level.

Agreed. I'd love to see him with the Bruins again. I can't even recall seeing him at a game post retirement though


Oh and **** cooke that should have been his last game in the nhl.

 

[BMC]

My daughter is battling her 2nd "mild" concussion of the school year right now. Got the first one in soccer in September and just got this one during softball on Friday.

Nowhere near as serious as what Savvy went through, but you could/can definitely see the difference in her affect and presentation.

More irritable (if that's possible for a 16 year old), low energy, easily frustrated.

Not fun at all and kind of scary as a parent.

I was 26 when I had my first and hopefully last concussion- I was playing third base in a Sunday softball league game when the batter hit a foul ball. I thought I could get it so I started chasing it. I was so focused on the ball that I didn't see the fence and ran face first right into the wall. Knocked out for about 30 seconds. Luckily one of my teammates was a nurse and she told our coach to call an ambulance. Hauled off to the hospital, x-ray was fine, doctor called it a "mild" concussion.

Yeah, right. For a week I couldn't tolerate any noise or light whatsoever. For about 6 weeks after that I was still sensitive but I could work. For months afterwards I just didn't feel right, something was "off" though I couldn't pin it down for you. If that was a mild one I shudder to think what Marc Savard had to endure. I hope your daughter will be all right.

 

[Aeroforce]

Bettman always seems to come out on top whenever there is labor strife or any other kind of conflict.

But methinks he will finally meet his match and lose big with the concussion lawsuit, and rightfully so.

Also, while not an excuse, this article sheds light on the Flyers series collapse from 2010.

 

[BMC]

Bettman always seems to come out on top whenever there is labor strife or any other kind of conflict.

But methinks he will finally meet his match and lose big with the concussion lawsuit, and rightfully so.

Also, while not an excuse, this article sheds light on the Flyers series collapse from 2010.

The NFL will lose its case too. Both leagues could go under.

 

[BNHL]

Bettman always seems to come out on top whenever there is labor strife or any other kind of conflict.

But methinks he will finally meet his match and lose big with the concussion lawsuit, and rightfully so.

Also, while not an excuse, this article sheds light on the Flyers series collapse from 2010.

Maybe,but Savard had shown signs of declining also.

 

[617Marine]

Tough article to read. I was at the game in Denver in 2011, in the corner where Savvy was hit, about 6-8 rows from the glass. I remember seeing the impact of his head hitting the glass, the terrible noise of the impact, and immediately thinking the same thing: he's done.

He just tweeted about being the power play coach next season maybe a month ago. I'd love to see him back around the team.

Agreed. Would love to see him involved with the organization in some fashion.

I was 26 when I had my first and hopefully last concussion- I was playing third base in a Sunday softball league game when the batter hit a foul ball. I thought I could get it so I started chasing it. I was so focused on the ball that I didn't see the fence and ran face first right into the wall. Knocked out for about 30 seconds. Luckily one of my teammates was a nurse and she told our coach to call an ambulance. Hauled off to the hospital, x-ray was fine, doctor called it a "mild" concussion.

Yeah, right. For a week I couldn't tolerate any noise or light whatsoever. For about 6 weeks after that I was still sensitive but I could work. For months afterwards I just didn't feel right, something was "off" though I couldn't pin it down for you. If that was a mild one I shudder to think what Marc Savard had to endure. I hope your daughter will be all right.

My daughter is battling her 2nd "mild" concussion of the school year right now. Got the first one in soccer in September and just got this one during softball on Friday.

Nowhere near as serious as what Savvy went through, but you could/can definitely see the difference in her affect and presentation.

More irritable (if that's possible for a 16 year old), low energy, easily frustrated.

Not fun at all and kind of scary as a parent.

My head was involved in so many collisions between 2004-07 I can't even recall them all. The two that stand out were the back of my head slamming the ice after a check (I delivered), and getting blindsided in a lacrosse game (actually pretty similar to the Savvy hit). Thankfully I was never officially "diagnosed" by trainers with a concussion, but who knows: this was before the major awareness picked up and protocols were developed.

I'm just glad the emphasis on player safety has picked up in recent years, especially in youth sports.

 

[Braunbaer]

My all-time favorite player.
It sucks his career ended that way, but in the end ... he is still able to live a good and happy life and that's all that matters.