On August 27th, Red Savage was named the new captain of Michigan State University’s men’s ice hockey team. Entering his second season with the Spartans, Savage stands as the team’s sole senior and will lead alongside three alternate captains: Karsen Dowart, Tiernan Shoudy, and Matt Basgall.
Savage began his college hockey career at Miami University (Ohio), where he played two seasons with his brother, Ryan, recording 13 goals and 17 assists over 67 games. His father, Brian Savage, also played at Miami from 1991-1993 before competing in 674 NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Philadelphia Flyers. In his first season with the Spartans, Red Savage achieved a collegiate career-high with 10 goals and 17 assists in 27 games, helping the team secure a Big Ten title. Upon his appointment as captain, Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale praised Savage and the alternate captains for embodying Spartan values and being excellent leaders for the program.
Before his college career, Savage was a standout player with the U.S. National Team Development Program, scoring 42 points with the U18 team during the 2020-21 season. His draft year was highlighted by his transitional skills, flair, accurate shot, and relentless energy—all areas he has significantly improved since being selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft at 114th overall. Recently, Savage has established himself as one of the Red Wings’ top collegiate prospects. Despite having the option to turn professional after his junior year at MSU, he chose to continue his college career, believing it was the best path for his development.
“I want to position myself to be the best hockey player and person I can be, on and off the ice. A college degree will be a valuable asset to have in my future.”