Former Victoriaville Tigres star Réginald Savage, one of the first black players to shine in Quebec's junior ranks, died of complications from cancer at the age of 53.
Savage was a first-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 1988, taken 15th overall. He then played 34 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), half of them with the Quebec Nordiques.
His former head coach at the Riverains de Richelieu, John Paris Jr., first made the announcement on his Facebook page Thursday evening.
“We have become very close over the years and I would like to express my most sincere thoughts to his family members and friends and especially thank the hockey fans in the Richelieu region and the province of Quebec who have witnessed his development from minor hockey to becoming a first-time hockey player.” Round draft by the Washington Capitals. We will miss you Reggie,” he wrote.
The hockey player's son, Félix-Antoine Savage, confirmed his father's death on the same social network.
“Rest well, father. I will miss you,” he shared.
At Victoriaville in the late 1980s, Réginald Savage had rain and shine with seasons of 122, 113 and 94 points. The Tigers also retired Savage's number 77.