Before the DU hockey team became national champions, they had to prove themselves against another one of college hockey’s greatest teams with a number of players who were days away from signing NHL contracts. Denver was up against the University of Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinal, and after a tense 60 minutes of regulation play, DU found themselves at a standstill with the Wolverines, the score stuck at 2-2 in OT.
Every player on the rink was tired. The game was neck and neck, and DU needed just one goal to win against Michigan’s star-studded lineup. Denver sophomore forward Carter Savoie (St. Albert, Alberta) got the puck and passed it to the left side of the rink. Bobby Brink picked up the puck and made a sharp pass to Savoie. No. 8 got the puck and made one of the best moves in his career. Like a scene out of a movie, Savoie drained the puck into the net and scored to win the game and keep Denver’s championship hopes alive. Every player on the team ran over to Savoie in celebration, overjoyed at their teammate scoring the game-winning goal and lifting them to the national championship game just two days later.
“I was so happy. It was an awesome goal, and it probably was one of the best goals in my career so far. I was super pumped up,” said Savoie.
Savoie was a crucial player on the DU hockey team this past season, winning the semi-finals with goals in the late periods against Minnesota Duluth and Michigan to keep the Crimson and Gold in the Frozen Four.
His impressive resume consists of the Barry Sharp Award (Freshmen of the Year) and Denver Athletics’ Male Freshmen of the Year last year, as well as being one of three DU players nominated for this season’s Hobey Baker Award, handed out annually to college hockey’s top player. He was also named the NCHC Player of the Week a conference-high four times this season, earning the award on Oct. 18, Nov. 15, Jan. 17 and March 7.
Off the ice, Savoie winds down by enjoying surfing, skiing and playing ball with his friends in his hometown of St. Albert, Alberta, a city just northwest of Edmonton, where Savoie was drafted 100th overall by the Oilers in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Savoie, whose teammates call him “Sav,” also has a supportive group in his family in addition to his teammates in Denver. One of his biggest influences is his younger brother, Matt, who has played for the Winnipeg Ice in the Western Hockey League. Savoie says having a brother who is competitive and always pushes him to be the best helped him become the player he is today.
“When we were young, and even to this day, we always text each other after games and push each other to be the best player we can be,” Savoie said.
His individual goals and DU’s aligned this April: Win the national championship.
Savoie’s personal goal is to be in the NHL and continue to improve his performance at the highest level possible. On April 18, he made one step towards that goal by signing with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Having mentors and teammates who have your back is also a way Savoie improves, and he is quick to credit the leadership of his fellow players, namely Brink and team captain Cole Guttman for much of his success.
As a sophomore this year, Savoie has led DU with 85 shots, seven power-play goals, three game-winning goals, and scored the first goal six times.
