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Exceptional accolades for the "team leader's" father

At 8:30 AM on a Thursday, following the Canadiens' defeat in Washington, Dominic Larsen-Lafond--Air Canada Jetz's flight director--organized the aircraft to transport the team back to Montreal. This journey marked defenseman David Savard's last flight as an NHL athlete.

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Exceptional accolades for the "team leader's" father

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It's 8:30 AM on a Thursday, the day after the Canadiens' elimination in Washington. With his crew, Dominic Larsen-Lafond, a flight director at Air Canada Jetz, was getting things in order for the plane that was about to bring the team back to Montreal for what would be David Savard's final game as an NHL player.

Guillaume Lefrançois, the focus for our site, explains that throughout the season, the Canadiens travel with the same flight director and flight attendants.

"I wanted to say something upon landing to thank the team for the privilege of being with them all year," Larsen-Lafond reflects, "but I wondered if we should say something special for David. And then it hit me: what if we moved the water cannons?"

This sparked a flurry of texts. The Montreal Airport (YUL) fire department had to be involved, thanks to Lieutenant Olivier Préfontaine and his teams. Air Operations also needed approval for the runway arrangement, and Starlink Aviation at Dorval Airport had to lend a hand.

Fifteen minutes before taking off from Washington, the idea was confirmed. Savard would receive the honors normally reserved for the retirement of flight commanders or the repatriation of remains.

The flight director admits he wasn't sure at first but felt it was the ideal moment, considering the Canadiens' chances against all odds, the fact that it was Savard's last game, and the widespread admiration for him. "He's a warrior," Larsen-Lafond shares with La Presse, "It's like nothing bad can happen because he's there."

Upon Savard's arrival at Dorval, the firefighters honored him in their own way, welcoming his plane with powerful jets from two fire hoses.

Friday was a day of reckoning in Brossard for Savard, a different type of reckoning than usual. His contract expires in the summer and it was already understood that it was the end of the line for him when he announced it before the start of the series against the Capitals, citing "the body that is letting go."

Among the 20 microphones surrounding him, Savard kept a certain discretion, acknowledging his back "was not excellent." The 1,765 shots blocked throughout the season and series, including 22 from Alex Ovechkin, surely took their toll.

"There are many injuries over time," Savard admitted, "Warm-ups are getting longer and longer, treatments are getting longer. Getting up in the morning, getting up from the pre-game nap, it's getting harder."

It's hard not to be able to play with your children one day, and be on an NHL rink the next. My body was sending me signs that it was time to go home with the kids.

Savard's selflessness has earned him respect from players across the NHL, as evident in the warm handshake in Washington from Ovechkin, among others, and the tribute from Spencer Carbery, head coach of the Capitals, at his press conference.

Respect also came from within, naturally. From Mike Matheson, who shared dinners with Savard on the road. From Lane Hutson, who partnered with Savard during his first two NHL games in 2024. From Samuel Montembeault, who was affectionately nicknamed "Snacks" by Savard.

Comments that echo the playful teasing Larsen-Lafond could observe on the plane, making Savard feel like a beloved father figure.

Interestingly, Savard mentioned he has "interest" in staying in the club's orbit, like Francis Bouillon and Paul Byron did when they retired. "I'll always be around if they have questions," Savard said. "I'll keep watching games. I have interest, and if there's a chance, and if it interests them, it's something I'd like to do."

But for now, it's about embracing family life with his three children. "I missed a lot of things, Saturday morning or afternoon activities. It's about getting back to a normal life, being there for my family."

  1. During Savard's final game in the NHL, the Montreal Airport fire department, led by Lieutenant Olivier Préfontaine, used water cannons in a unique ritual to honor him, an honor typically reserved for the retirement of flight commanders or the repatriation of remains.
  2. Guillaume Lefrançois, our site's focus, mentioned that the Canadiens travel with the same flight director and flight attendants throughout the season, including during their flight with Air Canada Jetz.
  3. The Canadiens' travel crew, led by flight director Dominic Larsen-Lafond, debated whether to say something special for David Savard upon his return to Montreal, considering it was his final game in the NHL.
  4. After his retirement from the NHL, David Savard expressed interest in staying connected with the Montreal Canadiens, hinting at a potential role similar to Francis Bouillon and Paul Byron's post-retirement involvement with the club.
Early Thursday at 8:30 am, following the Canadiens' loss in Washington, Dominic Larsen-Lafond - an Air Canada Jetz flight director - readied the aircraft that would transport the team to Montreal. This trip marked the final NHL flight for David Savard.
On the following day post Canadiens' exit in Washington, Dominic Larsen-Lafond, the captain of Air Canada Jetz, arranged the aircraft to transport the team back to Montreal. This flight marked David Savard's farewell journey as an NHL player, alongside the crew.
Early Thursday morning, following Canada's elimination in Washington, Air Canada Jetz captain Dominic Larsen-Lafond readied the aircraft for the team's return to Montreal. This flight served as the final journey for David Savard as an NHL player.

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