Serge Savard did not hesitate to criticize the treatment reserved for former players of the Montreal Canadiens during the reign of general manager Marc Bergevin.
“Alumni, we had a difficult time with Marc Bergevin,” the 76-year-old said on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the third Serge Savard Invitational, a charity event held at Le Mirage golf club.
«Il [Bergevin] didn’t want to have anyone around the room [des joueurs]. Even to go to the alumni room, you had to make a detour through the press room.
Savard, who played 15 seasons in a Habs uniform, remembered that he enjoyed rubbing shoulders with former players when he played in the National League.
“When I was a player and there were guys who came to meet us in the locker room after games, we were happy. Marcel Bonin came to see us every time he attended a match at the Forum. It’s something you don’t see anymore.”
The former star defender, however, said he was optimistic that the situation is changing with the new regime put in place after the dismissal of Bergevin last November.
“The Canadian has [récemment] named three new ambassadors. Chantal Machabee [la vice-présidente Communications Hockey du CH] has made it a priority and understands the situation of the alumni. I think it will get better.”
This is not the first time that Savard has attacked Bergevin. Ironically, Savard had played a role in the hiring of Bergevin as CEO in 2012, he who had worked with Geoff Molson to elect Pierre Gauthier’s successor. The ex-number 18 says he tried to chat with Bergevin a few times afterwards, without ever getting a return call.