Savard’s antics bookended Fergie’s ‘72 experience

John Ferguson admires a cigar ad featuring himself prior to the ‘72 Canada-Russia Summit Series. Despite the Team Canada victory, he was not smiling after the pre and post-series antics of his friend, and former teammate, Serge Savard.

In October 1972, Team Canada made their triumphant return to Montreal’s Dorval Airport, after winning the Summit Series over Russia. They were greeted by thousands of cheering fans and dignitaries, such as Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau .

“I can’t believe the response we’ve had,” said Team Canada assistant coach John Ferguson,upon the team’s arrival home. “It’s an experience I’ll never forget in my life.”

Retired since the 1971 season, the one-time Montreal Canadiens enforcer had turned down an invitation to play and instead took on a coaching roll under Harry Sinden.

Ferguson was returning from Europe, after the grueling eight-game series victory, with a fantastic personal trophy.

Clutched in his hands, as he made his way through the airport crowds, was a Team Canada hockey stick that had been signed by all the players on the team.

The stick was seldom out of sight, as Team Canada left Moscow for a single exhibition game against the Czech National team in Prague.

From there it was off to Paris and then home. All the while, Ferguson kept the stick in his clutches at restaurants, hotels and airports. Sinden even claimed that one night he saw his assistant coach go into the men’s room with it, and lock the door.

Ferguson already had plans to mount the stick on his den wall once he got home. It never got there thanks to some unsuspected thieving hands from one of his best friends,

Serge Savard is escorted by RCMP officers as Team Canada ‘72 made their way into Dorval Airport- photo: Montreal Gazette

As the players made their way to the receiving line with Prime Minister Trudeau and Mayor Drapeau, Ferguson was lined up behind Team Canada defenseman, and former Canadiens teammate, Serge Savard.

Savard had finished exchanging words with the Prime Minister when Ferguson heard him say, “And, by the way, look what John Ferguson brought home for you.”

“Before I could say ‘Sacre Bleu!’ Serge had had gently pulled the autographed stick from my hands while I temporarily contracted a case of lockjaw,” he wrote in his biography “Thunder and Lightning.”

If it had it been Guy Lapointe, another Team Canada rearguard and noted joker in the Habs dressing room, it probably would not have been as much of a surprise to Ferguson.

Had someone tried to take, or knock a stick out of John Ferguson’s hands during a his playing days, there likely would have been retaliation on his part with serious repercussions to whoever did it.

“I was speechless, I wanted to throttle him,” he later told Brian McFarlane in “True Hockey Stories: The Habs".”

Before a group of dignitaries however, it was a different case. The Prime Minister happily accepted the stick and thanked the shocked and puzzled Ferguson.

“What could I say?” Ferguson said in his book. “Finally I forced a few words out, ‘Uh, er, you’re welcome, Mr. Prime Minister,’ I said. It was nothing.” Extracting some revenge on his friend, he grinded his heel into Savard’s Gucci shoes while talking to Trudeau.

The Prime Minister handed it over to one the members in his entourage and that was the last John Ferguson ever saw of his stick.

Ferguson later told McFarlane that a staff member from the Prime Minister’s office had got wind of the Savard prank and had offered to return the stick to him. “I said Trudeau could keep it,” Ferguson said.

The stick incident wasn’t the first time Savard had foiled Ferguson’s plans in 1972.

During Team Canada’s August training camp in Toronto, Ferguson had a good tip on a race horse he once owned at the Fort Erie track.

The players had the day off, but Sinden had his coaches working. Savard and Ferguson were both avid racehorse owners, so the latter asked a favour of his friend.

“Drive to Fort Erie today and bet a horse for me in the seventh race,” Ferguson said. “Bet $100 win, $100 place and $100 show. What ever you do, wait until the last minute to place the bets. We don’t want to attract any attention and kill the odds.”

Savard rented a car and made his way to the track and realized that if Ferguson could benefit from a windfall, why shouldn’t he?

Unfortunately, Savard was unfamiliar with the Fort Erie track. Hearing the “One minute to post” call, he made his way to the window to place the bets on the 7-1 odds.

The only problem was it was a cashier window, and he needed to be at the other end of the building to place his bets. The other thing Savard didn’t know is that at Ontario tracks, “ one minute” is just that. The tracks in Quebec, that he was more familiar with, used the “One-minute” call, but allowed a five minute window for late bets.

“He’s going to kill me!” Savard thought to himself.

Ferguson’s tip placed second, and would have doubled their money. Instead, Savard was going home with their even $600, less the cost of the car rental which he felt Ferguson should still pay for.

“C’mon Fergy, anyone can make a mistake,” Savard pleaded.

“True, Serge,” Ferguson replied. “You’ve proved that often enough.”

All was forgiven between the pair of course, and the two remained lifelong friends and business partners.

Nine years after the stick snatching incident, Ferguson, now GM of the Winnipeg Jets, took Savard in the 1981 Waiver Draft after the Canadiens failed to properly file his retirement papers.

Ferguson was persistent to convince his friend not to retire and two months into the 1981-82 season, Savard finally agreed. He would play two final seasons in Winnipeg  before retiring officially.

A Keane connection: Former Canadiens captain Mike  Keane owes a debt of gratitude to Serge Savard and John Ferguson. Left undrafted, Keane had been playing minor hockey in Winnipeg. Ferguson had watched him play there and gave Savard, now GM of the Canadiens, a call. The rest, as they say, is history.

Sources for this article:

The Montreal Gazette, October 3, 1972

The Montreal Gazette, “How Serge pushed Fergie to the Brink” – by Ted Blackman - August 15, 1981

“Thunder and Lightning” by John Ferguson with Stan and Shirley Fischler

“True Hockey Stories: The Habs” by Brian McFarlane

“’72 From Training Camp to Victory” - DVD

Captain Kirk’s days with the C were short in Montreal

On August 30,1994, the Montreal Canadiens named Kirk Muller as their captain.

The Kingston native, and former New Jersey Devils captain, was chosen to take over after former captain, Guy Carbonneau, was traded to the St. Louis Blues eleven days earlier.

“This is Kirk Muller’s team now,” said coach Jacques Demers.

Unfortunately, timing is everything and for Muller his time as captain would be short.

A players strike would shorten the 1994-95 NHL season to just 48 games. The season would start on January 21, 1995.

Muller and then captain Guy Carbonneau celebrate their ‘93 Cup victory

The Canadiens struggled offensively that season, and Muller’s numbers were down.

Despite a trade made by Serge Savard to acquire Mark Recchi, the Canadiens were still desperate to make the playoffs.

Savard then made another deal, this one involved Muller, Mathieu Schneider and Craig Darby going to the New York Islanders for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov on April 5, 1995.

Although excited to be getting a scorer in Turgeon, fans were shocked and outraged that their captain had be sacrificed to get him.

Teammate Denis Savard said Muller was in near tears eyes when he faced the scrum of reporters and categorized his friend as being "devastated."

Muller, being the classy and professional man he was, kept his composure.

"I'm shocked, but it's a business," said he said. "I enjoyed it here, but life goes on."

In an October 2007 article, by the Montreal Gazette’s Red Fisher, Muller talked more on the trade.

"I was more shocked being traded from here than when I was in New Jersey," Muller said.

"First, I loved it here and I didn't want to go anywhere. I was learning French. We were settled here. I was just named captain. The style was for me. The numbers were there. I was happy. There were no problems. Zero."

Muller retired eight seasons later. After a season as head coach with his hometown Queen’s Golden Gaels (OUA), he became an assistant coach with the Canadiens.

Muller playing in the Legends Classic game in Montreal

More on Kirk Muller

My interview with him from this past July at Wayne Gretzky’s golf tournament.

Habs Eyes on the Prize looks at the revolving door of Canadiens captains in the mid to late ‘90s.

Muller also does regular speaking engagements and recently joined Montreal-based Luxury Rentals as a promotional associate.

Red Fisher’s afore-mentioned article citing the trade to get Kirk Muller was the tenth best in Canadiens History.

July 1989: A changing of the guard in Habs leadership

The 1988-89 NHL Season concluded with the Montreal Canadiens losing in six games in the Stanley Cup Finals at the hands of the Calgary Flames.

Much like the the 2008-09 off season departures of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev ands Mike Komisarek, several leadership changes were about to unfold for the Montreal Canadiens as their 1989-90 season approached.

On July 18, 1989 with five Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe trophy and four Selke trophies to his name, Canadiens’ captain Bob Gainey announced his retirement.

D’Arcy Jenish chronicled Gainey’s retirement in his recent book: The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory

Bob Gainey’s last act as captain occurred on July 18, 1989. He sat at a table in the media room at the Forum with Serge Savard to his right, wife Cathy to his left and a large crowd of teammates, team officials and journalists before him. He spoke in English and French, switching effortlessly from one to the other, performing with customary poise and distinction, as one writer put it, and announced that after sixteen bruising and sometimes punishing seasons, he was through.

“The people of Montreal are known, and rightly so, as the strongest and most knowledgeable fans,” he said. “I tried to perform for them every night I played and I’ll carry with me many great memories.”

Savard spoke warmly of his former teammate. He cited his many accomplishments: the Stanley Cup championships, the individual awards, the all-star nominations and the appearances with Team Canada. “If I can describe Bob Gainey in one word,” Savard said, “it would be determination. He once played with two separated shoulders and no one even knew about it. In his prime he was one of the most feared players in the league. He is one of the greats in the history of the Canadiens hockey club.”

Pat Burns spoke of the future and the challenge ahead. “You don’t replace Bob Gainey,” Burns said. “You put someone else out there, but you don’t replace him.”

A week later on July 26, 1989 longtime Canadiens’ defenceman Larry Robinson, a more than suitable replacement as captain, was left without a contract and signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

Larry Robinson signed a three-year deal with the Kings on 07/26/89 playing all three seasons and appear in the playoffs for a record 20 consecutive seasons.

With two key leaders gone from the Canadiens’ ranks, and no clear replacement, the team would be asked to vote on the next captain.

Three rounds of voting wound up in ties between Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios.

Savard made the decision to name Carbonneau and Chelios as co-captains, alternating the “C” every other game.

Ultimately, the captaincy would fall to Carbonneau alone.

Despite signing a new five-year deal in February 1990, Chelios was traded in June 1990 to Chicago for Denis Savard.

It was a move that surprised Chelios, Burns and fans alike.

There was speculation that Canadiens’ president Ronald Corey was tired of Chelios’ alleged off ice antics and demanded the trade, but Savard claimed it was his decision based on team doctors’ concerns that Chelios’ knee might shorten his career.

That theory can be thrown out the window twenty years later.

Carbonneau would lead the Canadiens to their last Stanley Cup in 1993.He remained captain until he too was traded in the summer of 1994 to the St. Louis Blues. He would win another Cup five years later with the Dallas Stars and then GM Bob Gainey.

Who will lead them?

Well the Montreal Canadiens roster officially got trimmed by one more player.

Despite a “rally of the masses” on Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre, Habs GM Bob Gainey told CJAD radio on Monday that Alex Kovalev would not be returning.

 Fans rallied Sunday to keep Alex Kovalev in Montreal

Hours later, Kovalev took the money ($10 million over two years) and ran up the highway to Ottawa Senators.

The Northeast Division will be fun to watch this season without a doubt.

With Kovalev’s departure and the likely signing of Saku Koivu to either Buffalo, Atlanta, Anaheim or whatever square Eklund’s rumor dart hit this afternoon, this leaves the captain and all assistant captains off to greener pastures.

Mike Komisarek defected to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 and Christopher Higgins was traded to the New York Rangers on June 30.

The question now has to be asked, who will be the next captain?

Andrei Markov has been an assistant captain in the past but is unlikely as a captain.

You have to remember that Koivu was criticized for not speaking French. Markov can barely speak English so it’s safe to rule him out.

The Kostitsyn brothers??? Georges Laraque ??? Forget it!

Scott Gomez seems to be an early popular choice, despite not playing one game for the Canadiens.

Sorry Mr. Gomez, but there’s too much tradition to just walk in and take the “C”.

Ditto for Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta.

All likelihood two of these three will be alternate captains.

Young bucks Josh Gorges, Maxim Lapierre and maybe Guillaume Latendresse would be a good choices as an alternate captains in my opinion, but I feel none of this trio is at a full leadership level.

Roman Hamrlik is the long-time veteran on the team, but could be moved before the start of the season.

In any event, the Canadiens have never gone without a captain in their history.

Jean Beliveau is the Canadiens’ longest serving captain

Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios alternated months in the 1989-90 season when the team vote was as close as the Quebec Referendum vote.

The captaincy of the Montreal Canadiens has always been voted on by the players, so ultimately it will be up to the final roster when it is set sometime in late September.

The players may elect to go a shared route in the 2009-10 season.

Either way, that individual is the go-to man by the fans and media of a team with 100 years of history, and 16 years and counting without a Stanley Cup.

Preferably I want a long standing captain like Koivu (win or lose), and not a revolving door that we saw in the mid-90’s.

But let’s not rule out the current captain just yet, shall we?

List of Montreal Canadiens Captains

Jack Laviolette           1909-10	Emile Bouchard                    1948-56
Newsy Lalonde            1910-11	Maurice Richard                   1956-60
Jack Laviolette           1911-12	Doug Harvey                        1960-61
Newsy Lalonde            1912-13	Jean Beliveau                       1961-71
Jimmy Gardner           1913-15	Henri Richard                       1971-75
Howard McNamara      1915-16	Yvan Cournoyer                    1975-79
Newsy Lalonde            1916-22	Serge Savard                       1979-81
Sprague Cleghorn        1922-25	Bob Gainey                          1981-89
Billy Coutu                  1925-26	G. Carbonneau/C. Chelios    1989-90
Sylvio Mantha             1926-32	Guy Carbonneau                   1990-94
George Hainsworth     1932-33	Kirk Muller                           1994-95
Sylvio Mantha             1933-36	Mike Keane          Apr – Dec       1995
Albert “Babe” Seibert  1936-39	Pierre Turgeon                     1995-96
Walter Buswell            1939-40	Vincent Damphousse             1996-99
Hector “Toe” Blake     1940-48	Saku Koivu                           1999-??
Bill Durnan    Jan – Apr      1948

The Hockey Hall of Fame, Part One: A must visit for Canadiens Fans!

I recently had some time in Toronto to play tourist and explore the Hockey Hall of Fame.

For the record, the last time I paid a visit to the Hall was nearly 20 years ago in it’s old diminutive home at the Exhibition grounds.

Now situated in the old Bank of Montreal Building on the northwest corner of Front and Yonge, the Hall has a massive 57,000 square foot facility to display hockey’s history.

Upon entering the foyer to the Hall through the lower level of the building, one finds a large goalie mask display known as the Mask Columns.

Encased in the columns are Ken Dryden’s pretzel mask and two masks that he used later in his career. It also shows how one of these fiberglass mask was made.

Behind the columns is a wall showcasing 1300 pucks acquired at different arenas and tournaments around the world.

After paying my $15 admission, that was worth every penny, one of the first things you see are nine foot statues of Dryden and Fred “Cyclone”Taylor.

I admired the massive statue of my childhood hero then glanced into the feature exhibit area that the statues guard.

A tremendous Montreal Canadiens Centennial exhibit is currently on display with memorabilia, photos, and equipment from the storied team.

A series of cabinets feature many of the team’s most honored players.

I made several passes through this exhibit during my visit, spotting something else each time.

From Jacques Plante’s personal Hart Trophy or a copy of the program from the 1975 New Year’s Eve game against Central Red Army to Jose Theodore’s toque from the Heritage Game and Joe Hall’s 1918 contract from 1918 for $700, many a unique Canadiens relic is to be found in this exhibit.

The note issued by Campbell and Selke, forfeiting the game against Detroit during the Richard Riots 

At the far end, a large video screen runs episodes of The Heroes of Hockey series, featuring Habs Hall of Famers.

If there was a chair, I would have sat there for them all!

A variety of exhibits surround the centerpiece including a tribute area of the famed Stanley Cup dynasties.

The Canadiens own three of these displays – The four Cup run from the ‘70s, the “Forgotten Dynasty” four in five from 1965 to 1969 and the unequalled five straight from 1956-1960.

 

The 70’s display shown above encases Ken Dryden’s set of gloves that he used throughout his final season (1978-79).

As I glanced through these fantastic displays, I couldn’t help but wonder, “If that stick, jersey, glove could only talk, what stories it could tell.”

My attention then turned to one of the most popular exhibits in the hall, the to-scale replica Montreal Canadiens dressing room from the Montreal Forum.

With locker stalls for several of the Canadiens Hall of Fame players, it’s interesting to look at the equipment used in the various eras.

Looking at knee pads similar to the ones Guy Lafleur once used, I thought about the massive, yet equally if not lighter, ones I have in my bag at home.

I sat down on the bench of Patrick Roy’s stall and took the massive goal pads up to my leg. As I did I looked at the smaller brown leather pads that Ken Dryden and Jacques Plante once used.

More history is played on video monitors above the room while you tour around.

On a quiet June Sunday morning, I was able to take a high detailed video of the room.

Making my way to the Upper Deck Collector’s Corner I found a treasure trove of Canadiens memorabilia.

Rookie cards of Dryden, Roy and Lafleur adorn one of the card displays while a complete Shiriff/Salada Coin set (in it’s display) was mounted on another.

I even came across a cardboard stand-up of Doug Risebrough from the 1970’s. I still have this one and several other of these at home still intact in their packaged form!

A media pass from the 1993 All-Star Game was found in a huge cabinet of passes and tickets.

I worked my way to the Great Hall, which houses the Stanley Cup, the awards trophies and the Hall of Fame plaques of all the inductees, including 44 players and builders from the Canadiens.

The wall of inductees is rather tall so you may need to look waaaaay up to find your favorite player.

  In Lord Stanley’s vault, I discovered some of the “retired” rings removed from the Stanley Cup. A few acknowledged previous Canadiens teams, so alas not all 24 Cup engravings are on the cup together.

Another find was one of the first personal miniature cups issued out to winning Stanley Cup players and management in 1957-58.

I clearly can spend another day in detail of this fantastic facility and was also interested to know that a huge resource centre is also available for public use by appointment only.

On your way out, you’ll find a pile of Canadiens collectibles to add to your collection at the Spirit of Hockey store.

I budgeted this time and just grabbed a 100th Anniversary game puck for this trip. I have a list in case you are going and would like to get me something. :)

I found it interesting that some Saku Koivu t-shirts were on at clearance prices. My trip was 10 days before the free-agent deadline.

Did the Hall know something ahead of time?

In the meantime, I offer my complete collection of Canadiens exhibit photos taken during my visit here.

I will be adding a second part on International hockey as well as another installment on the rest of the Hall  of Fame to my site in the coming weeks.

Accolades and honors still come for Jean Beliveau

Having been removed from playing the game of hockey for 38 years, Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau is still well recognized in the hockey world.

Today, the 77-year-old Hall of Famer was announced as the honorary captain for Canada’s 2010 Olympic Hockey Team.

Béliveau received a Team Canada jersey, bearing the famous No. 4 that he wore with the Canadiens for twenty years.

Former teammates Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer were on hand to present the jersey at a news conference for the Hockey Canada Foundation gala and celebrity golf tournament on Monday in Montreal.

“It's unbelievable to think of some of the players who never had the chance to represent Canada in international play,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada.

“It's about time we see the great Jean Béliveau in a Team Canada sweater.”

Béliveau was a ten-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with the Canadiens and added seven more as an executive.

His seventeen appearances on the Stanley Cup is a record in the NHL as his his team record ten years as captain.

Béliveau was the first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the playoff MVP, in 1965.

He recorded 1219 points (507 goals, 712 assists) in 1125 games during the regular season and 176 points (79G, 97A) in 162 playoff games.

He retired as a player in 1971, missing the ‘72 Summit Series.

Since the IIHF did not allow professionals to compete in the World Championships until 1977, Béliveau never had an opportunity to compete at an international level.

Earlier this month, Béliveau received a Lifetime Achievement award from the NHL, for his dedication to the game of hockey, during the 2009 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman could not have summed it up any better when he told the audience;

“Jean Béliveau was a star, a statesman of our game. He is the emblem of elegance and class.”

OK, well maybe he could have said it a bit better, Jean Béliveau still IS a star.

Below is just a portion of the list of NHL and non-NHL awards Jean Béliveau has received

Stanley Cups	10 as a player, 7 as executive
Hart Trophy	1956, 1964
Art Ross Trophy	1956
Conn Smythe Trophy	1965, inaugural winner
All-Star Game appearances	14
First Team All-Star, 2nd Team	Six times, Four times
Jersey No.4 retired by Canadiens	October 9, 1971
Hockey Hall of Fame	1972
Honorary Degree in Physical Education (Univ. of Moncton)	1972
Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee	1981
Knight of the National Order of Quebec	1988 and promoted to officer in 2006
Loyola Medal (Loyola College)	1995
Companion of the Order of Canada	1998
Canada’s Walk of Fame	2001
Canada Postage Stamp	2001
Honorary Doctorate of Laws – McGill University	2006
NHL Lifetime Achievement Award	2009
Honorary Captain - 2010 Team Canada Olympic Hockey Team	2009

Jean Béliveau was also offered the post of Governor General of Canada in 1994, but declined the position due to personal reasons.

May 4, 1969: Canadiens "Forgotten Dynasty" wins Cup Number 16

On May 4 1969, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the St. Louis Blues to sweep the Stanley Cup Finals in four games.

It was the 16th Stanley Cup in the franchise's history.

Having already set then league record for wins -46- and points -103- in the regular season, Montreal swept past the New York Rangers and took six games to get past the Boston Bruins and into the final.

It would be the second straight year that the Canadiens faced the Blues in the finals, having swept them in the previous season.

Montreal goaltender Rogie Vachon allowed just three goals in the four games, recording his first career playoff shutout in game three of the series.

Head coach Claude Ruel, who replaced the legendary Toe Blake, became the eleventh rookie coach to lead his team to victory.

Montreal defenseman Serge Savard won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after racking up fourteen points in ten games.

Savard became the first blueliner to win the award since it's inception.

The victory was the Canadiens second consecutive Cup and fourth in five years for what is known by many as the "Forgotten Dynasty".

Fourteen Canadiens players took part in all four championships that closed out the sixties.