SAVAGE USING RESILIENCE AND BLOODLINE TO FUEL JUMP TO PRO HOCKEY
Rookie forward following in Great Uncle’s footsteps 64 years later
Sep 23, 2025By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The last name Savage probably doesn’t stick out to those going through the pages of their metaphorical Rochester Americans history books.
But what about Hillman? That should elicit a different response.
64 years ago, Larry Hillman made his way to the Rochester Americans. The defenseman from Kirkland Lake, Ontario, arrived during the 1961-62 season, helped Rochester capture its first Calder Cup in 1965, played parts of six seasons with the franchise, and was immortalized into the Amerks Hall of Fame in 2009.
Now, nearly seven decades later, Hillman has a great nephew prepared to make his debut as an Amerk. Enter: Red Savage.
“I’m super excited,” said Savage. “It’s been a long road. I’ve been dreaming about being a professional hockey player my whole life. The fact that it’s finally here is just exciting to get ready to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Savage’s last name may not be a familiar one in the Flower City, but it certainly is known in the world of hockey. His father, Brian, spent 12 years in the NHL, playing mostly for Montreal. For as successful of a career as Brian had, there is a minute and elite list of players on or near the level of Hillman. In between helping the Amerks nab a Calder Cup, the blueliner lifted Lord Stanley six times. Yes, six times. He is one of 10 defensemen in the history of hockey to do so.
“It’s definitely special. He ended up having one of the best careers of all time. It’s really cool to be able to have someone like that in the family tree. I was able to meet him a couple of times when I was young. He would show me all of his rings. Every time I’d go over, he’d show me his rings and share some stories. He’s also the youngest player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup and I’m pretty sure with the new rules he can never lose hold of that record.”
18 years, two months, and nine days old to be exact.
Savage, like his father and great uncle, hopes to have the same success at the highest level, but the former Detroit Red Wings draft pick fought adversity before his professional voyage into hockey even began. The 22-year-old enters the 2025-26 campaign aiming to play regular season hockey for the first time since December of last year.
“My senior season at Michigan State ended early because I needed shoulder surgery. I got the same shoulder done in 2020 when I was playing for the U.S. program, so it was something I had already gone through, which helped with this surgery being a lot easier, but it was still hard. It always is when you want to be out their competing with your teammates.”
Two surgeries on the same shoulder just four years apart. Savage leaned on his time in the USHL for experience on how to deal with the injury, but he also leaned on a person that helped him get through that time: Michael Leone.
The two are now reunited in Rochester.
“He (Leone) was our assistant coach at the time of my first surgery, so I was hanging out with him a ton. I was able to build a really good relationship with him. He had previously been somewhat of an intern assistant coach. He would sit a stall away from us, so we were always chatting it up before and after practice. He was a really good middleman between the players and the coaching staff. We could talk to him without any nerves. I was able to be honest with him and developed into being a leader for the team. He was a big reason for that.”
“Red hasn’t played hockey in nine months,” said Leone, the now-head coach for the Amerks. “He’s relentless and works hard and that’s just Red. He’s a winning hockey player. No matter the environment, he’s always going to do whatever he can to help his team win.”
The description of a “winning hockey player” fits Savage, who has won everywhere he’s been. The Scottsdale, Arizona, product earned a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships before finding more success at the collegiate level, where Savage won his conference’s championship in 2024 with Michigan State University. After two seasons at Miami of Ohio, Savage joined the Spartans that 2023-24 season and finished sixth in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points.
Now, Savage enters the year with a clean bill of health. The Amerks signed the dynamic forward to a two-year contract in the offseason. Through injuries and adversities, Savage has persevered. He is here, competing for a roster spot at the pro level. Come October, Savage hopes to be wearing red, white, and blue as a member of the Amerks roster during the team’s historic 70th season. In doing so, he’ll look to wear the colors his great uncle first wore in year six of the franchise.
“Everyone here is good at hockey. Everyone is here for a reason. It’s a really good opportunity for all of us and it’s been fun personally to see how big of a step it is to go from college to pro. We’ve all worked our whole lives to be here. I’m excited to see where the year goes. Hopefully I’ll have the chance to add some more records to the family tree.”