PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Börje Salming is currently in Toronto.
Now the Swedish hockey icon will get his very own tribute on Swedish soil.
The Salming family has agreed to the “Tidernas Hockeygala” on November 17.
That was last Wednesday Börje Salming and the immediate family left Swedish soil to fly to North America. The Salming family is currently in the hockey icon’s old hometown of Toronto for the annual Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Salming agrees
During the weekend, the plan is for the Canadians to pay tribute to the 71-year-old and show their great love for the favorite Swede in two straight nights when the Toronto Maple Leafs play double home games. If health permits, Salming will receive the crowd’s huge cheers in the home arena Scotiabank Arena.
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But now it is clear that Börje Salming will be celebrated at home as well. Today came the news that the Salming family has accepted the “Hockey Gala of the Ages” on November 17.
READ MORE: First picture of Börje Salming who has landed in Toronto – the hockey icon is pushed around in a wheelchair
“One of the biggest”
Then Swedish hockey will be celebrated big with a grand 100th anniversary party and all Swedish hockey legends will be there. So also one of the very largest in the form of Börje Salming.
– It means an awful lot and we are honoured, says Marcus Törngren on SVT Sport, which is executive producer for the gala, in a statement.
– Börje is one of the very biggest we’ve had in Swedish ice hockey and has a chance to win several of the prizes that are awarded. It will be a nice and extremely memorable evening, we are very happy about this announcement from the Salming family.
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As many as 900 guests have been exclusively invited to the gala evening in Avicii Arena and a lot of prizes are to be awarded to Swedish hockey’s greatest players of all time and also the greatest moments.
– I can’t reveal names yet, it’s secret, but I can promise that in addition to Börje Salming, our biggest hockey profiles will also be present at the gala, says SVT producer Törngren.
An appointed jury has selected award winners in the categories Goalkeeper of the Times, back and forward as well as Player of the Times. Then the Swedish people will get to vote for the supporters’ own favorite player and choose the Moment of the Times and the All Star Five of the Times in the gala broadcast on SVT on November 17.
READ MORE: The Toronto Maple Leafs’ fine support for Börje Salming – this is how the NHL team has helped the 71-year-old: “Shock for us all”