In McDavid’s footsteps – Savoie hopes to become exceptional
NHL Prospects
2018-12-21, 13:00
Matthew Savoie need not look too far to find the inspiration.
Across town, in fact.
At Connor McDavid.
Savoie, a 14-year-old playing with Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep, is trying to become exceptional like the Edmonton Oilers captain.
“It’s a little nervous,” says Savoie, who has applied to Hockey Canada for exceptional status with the hope of having the option of playing in the Western Hockey League at 15.
“Guys have such high expectations. But it’s also exciting getting the opportunity.
“It’s exciting. It’s a real good opportunity just to be able to think about going to junior a year earlier. It’s really exciting. There’s lots of talk about it.”
McDavid was the third player granted exceptional status in 2012, joining John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad before him. Sean Day followed in 2013 and Joe Veleno became the first player from Quebec to be given exceptional status in 2015.
Should his application be successful, Savoie would become the first in Western Canada.
“It’d be a pretty cool thing to be the first guy out west to get exceptional status,” Savoie said. “That’d definitely be pretty cool to have. It’s just exciting to know that I could be the first one if I get accepted.”
The process will play out in early March for Savoie.
It’ll be a patient wait.
“I’m pretty anxious just to see what the results are,” said Savoie, who was AMBHL rookie of the year in 2016-17 and CSSBHL most valuable player in 2017-18. “I’m just trying to stay focused. I still have a long year ahead just making the decision.
“Nothing’s official yet.”
Not yet.
“His coaches think he’s ready to play,” said Scott Savoie, Matt’s father. “I’ve had some pretty lengthy discussions with coaches and some good friends of mine that are hockey guys. They feel that he’s ready to make that jump to the WHL if that’s what he chooses to do, and still be an impact player at that level even next year. That’s kind of exciting for him. We’re not going to jump into anything.
“We’re going to wait and see how it all plays out.”
Until then, there will be plenty of eyes on the St. Albert, AB product.
It can be overwhelming.
“It’s a lot to take in,” Scott Savoie said. “There’s lots of talk about it and people are calling me. People at work are like, ‘We saw your son on TV.’
“It’s exciting, but we’re still a little nervous because he is still young. We want to make sure we make the right decisions for him going forward. As a parent, you always want what’s best for your kid. It’s a little stressful at times, but exciting, too.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what the future brings.”
The future, it seems, is bright for the mostly right winger.
Savoie leads Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep with 54 points (24 goals, 30 assists) in 23 games.
Dylan Guenther, his linemate, was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Guenther has 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 18 games.
There’s plenty to like along with the stat line.
“What really makes Savoie an exceptional player is his competitiveness and drive,” said Donesh Mazloum, an Edmonton-based scout with Future Considerations Hockey. “While he is usually the most talented player on the ice, you can see a purposeful commitment to also be the hardest working and most consistently impactful player on the ice.
“There is never an invisible shift for Savoie. His combination of talent, confidence, effort, and execution is unmatched in any other 14-year-old hockey player I’ve seen. He is such an impressive player at 14 that I often have to remind myself the age gap between himself and the players he’s playing against.”
Where he plays next is still open to discussion.
Photo by Two Point Photography
Even with exceptional status, Savoie could still explore his NCAA options.
His brother, Carter, plays in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Sherwood Park Crusaders, and has committed to the University of Denver.
It offers options to the 5-foot-9, 165-pound forward.
“We want to kind of wait and see how the draft works out and see if it’s the right fit for him, and if it is, then we’ll have to look at it,” Scott Savoie said. “It’s still really almost a year away so a lot of things can change in that year. We want to make sure we have that option open and available to him if that’s the way he wants to go.
“It’s hard enough to decide at 15 when you’re drafted or 16 when you can play, let alone being 14 and have to make that decision. As soon as you make that commitment you lose your NCAA eligibility. Those are tough decisions to make. We’re just trying to keep the options open. More than anything, it buys us some time, nine months. He can go to camp for whatever WHL team picks him and go from there.
“It’s easy to sit there and say Matt’s going to play in the NHL at 18 and if he was 17 years old, I’d say, ‘you know what, you’re right.’ The reality is he’s 14 years old. Lots can change. He has to find the right path for himself and work through that as well.”
The uncertainty, both in the path and the exceptional process, hasn’t diminished the excitement.
For Savoie.
For those around him.
For those curious about Canada’s next, potentially, exceptional player.
“I think there was a lot of talk about it,” Savoie said. “I’ve talked to coaches and teammates are talking to me, asking me about it. It’s pretty exciting. My coaches have been really supportive, along with teammates and my parents.
“Everyone’s just really supportive about it.
“Still a ways away, but it’s for sure exciting.”
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