Marc Savard set to play at PGA Canada event; 'I miss (hockey), there’s no question about it'

The old cliché is that hockey players hit the links upon being eliminated from playoff contention every spring, but for Marc Savard, golf is all he has these days to keep the competitive juices flowing.

The 36-year-old hasn't played an NHL game since 2011 as a member of the Boston Bruins, after suffering his second concussion in 10 months. At this point, the veteran of 807 career contests - registering 207 goals and 499 assists during that time - has all but officially ruled out a return to professional hockey.

“It’s going to be tough to play again,” Savard told The Winnipeg Sun. “I listen (to the doctors) and taking another hit is not really on the agenda. Right now, it doesn’t look promising.”

Recently, however, Savard's golf game has improved to the point where he received a sponsor’s exemption to play in The Players Cup - a PGA TOUR Canada tournament - from July 7-13 in Winnipeg, MB. 

Savard credits his success to taking a page out of his hockey career and incorporating it into his golf game:

I went out and tried it right-handed and it was not enjoyable, to say the least. Later on that summer, someone said why don’t you try left-handed, you play hockey left-handed. I didn’t play the toughest course, but I shot an 85 as a lefty, so I stuck with it and I’ve fallen in love with the game. I’ve really put the time in. I have a green in my backyard and I practice all the time. It’s something that I’m actually obsessed with.

The Bruins were able to successfully petition to have Savard's name engraved on the Stanley Cup after their championship run in 2011; he says that's as good a way to wrap up his career as any, and states he does have aspiration to return to the game in some capacity in the future:

It’s a good way to go out if that’s the way I have to go out. I’ve been able to deal with it and move on from it, but the first couple years were really tough, especially going back to Boston. 

I still go back once a month to see the doctors. I miss (hockey) it, there’s no question about it. I still watch the game and keep in contact with some guys I’m still close with. I’ve always been a hockey-watcher, especially the playoffs.

I still love the game and maybe down the road I’d like to coach in the junior ranks. Maybe helping out in the OHL would be something I’d look forward to doing.