Serge Savard: The unsung hero of the Summit Series

The only player to go undefeated in the series, Savard wasn't even supposed to be on the team. But then former teammate John Ferguson intervened on his behalf

Fifty years later, Serge Savard is still irked he was scratched for Game 1 of the Summit Series.

When John Ferguson was named an assistant coach for Team Canada ’72, he accepted the assignment on one condition – that he be able to make two unfettered choices for the roster. Those two players were Peter Mahovlich and Serge Savard.

And aside from Bobby Orr convincing Phil and Tony Esposito to leave their summer hockey school to play against the Soviets, Ferguson’s player personnel decisions might have been the most important of the series. Mahovlich killed penalties and scored one of the most memorable goals in hockey history in Game 2. And Savard was dominant in the games in which he played. In fact, he’s the only player on the roster who played and was undefeated. He played in the wins in Games 2, 6, 7 and 8 and the tie in Game 3.