Malmo's Tough Guy - Savaisk Tzesar

[tcookie 1,014]

Boris Tzesar spent five years between the pipes for the Malmo Nighthawks, becoming one of the franchise's all-time goaltending leaders before his retirement. A couple of seasons later, another Tzesar would pull on a Malmo jersey. It wasn't long before he became the toughest guy in Sweden.

 

Drafted 12th overall in the S89 draft, Savaisk Tzesar was never really considered much of a fighter as a prospect. He scored 41 points in 70 games with 119 hits in his VHLM rookie season with Houston, moving on to the San Diego Marlins in S89 where he scored 34 goals, 81 points, and added 184 hits. Altogether, he finished his two-year VHLM career with 121 PIM. He took his game to the VHLE's Cologne Express in S90 and put up 42 points, 59 PIM, and 113 hits in 72 games. He was a 6'3, 210 body who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty on the ice, but as you can see, it was never a focal point to his game - more complimentary physicality.

 

In S91, Savaisk made his Malmo debut. He played a bit of a smaller role on what was an emerging contender as a rookie, with 15 goals, 33 points, 137 hits, and 71 PIM. In S92, he improved to put up 26 goals, 50 points, 162 hits, and 72 PIM. Throughout this time, though he was clearly a talented player and a contributor to Malmo's successes, he sought a way to make a bigger impact on the game. The Nighthawks were a young team with plenty of skill. As S93 progressed, Tzesar made a conscious effort to stand out in another way - supporting his teammates by throwing his body around and finishing checks every chance he could get.

 

The increased physical play did draw the attention (and ire) of his opponents, and Tzesar found himself having to drop the mitts more frequently as it happened, but he acclimated himself well as a fighter. To his credit, the skill element he brought to the game never faltered - Tzesar evolved into a true power forward who blended hands, skill, scoring touch and nastiness to perfection. He began creating space for himself - and teammates - with his physical presence.

 

"I loved everyone on that team," says Helsinki Titans centre Phillip Rave, who spent the first six seasons of his career as Tzesar's teammate. "But the way Savaisk played the game was special. One of those guys that played the right way every night, that you want to go to war with. One of those guys that every night you're happy you're playing on his team and not against him, that's for sure."

 

S94 represented a breakout season for Tzesar, as he scored 44 goals and 90 points while adding 327 hits and 149 PIM. Over his final four seasons, he would post seasonal averages of 39 goals, 84 points, 300 hits, and 156 PIM. "I mean... when a guy can reliably give you 40 goals, 80 points, and 300 hits, what can you say? Of course I want that guy on my team," says Rave.

 

But perhaps the best hockey of Tzesar's career came in the S96 playoffs. The Nighthawks won a wildcard series before being eliminated in the first round in five games. During those 8 games, Tzesar compiled 18 points and 40 hits. Nobody who bested him in either category played fewer than 17 games that post-season. He may have been the best player on the ice every night, but it wasn't enough. It's a playoff run that, simply due to its shortness, will never get the respect it deserves. Had Malmo supported him better, it may have ended up one of the best playoff runs ever.

 

"I understand we earned a bit of a reputation that nobody really wants to have on those Malmo teams," says Rave. "But if there's anyone that doesn't deserve any of the blame for that, it's Savaisk. He played so hard, sacrificed so much, put his body on the line every night. And there he was, second last season of his career... old man was absolutely dominating out there. It's a shame that we couldn't get it done, so many guys deserved better fates. But Savaisk, man, he went out there and did it. We just couldn't do it with him."

 

@Komrad

[Komrad 389]

Loved the entire thing man and I’m happy that I got to play with a teammate like rave