PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The friends Börje Salming and Ingemar Stenmark came up with a lot together.
But Stenmark has a clear favorite memory of Börje.
– That whole trip is perhaps the best memory, says the former downhill skier to HockeySverige.
Börje Salming announced that he had ALS in August 2022. Tragically, the former hockey player passed away just months later, in November 2022, as a result of the disease. Börje was 71 years old.
Salming & Stenmark
Börje was best known for his success in the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tre Kronor, but he also played for Brynäs, Detroit Redwings and AIK. He was considered one of the best hockey players of all time and has been elected to both the Swedish and international Hockey Hall of Fame.
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The former slope was well known to the alpine skiing legend Ingemar Stenmark. The duo met for the first time in 1980, and then met several times during their careers. Salming and Stenmark also became friends after they bought the plots next to each other and built a house each in Vaxholm.
– It wasn’t like we hung out a lot. I traveled a lot and he was always busy with something so it was just the right amount.
– We probably felt a sense of security in the fact that we were both Norlanders. He was very kind and handsome in every way. At the same time, he was involved in everything and I thought he always walked with the phone in his hand. Börje was genuinely kind, says Stenmark to Hockey Sweden.
Best Börje memory
After Börje moved from Vaxholm, the duo drifted apart, and towards the end they didn’t have much contact.
– We’ve only been in contact once in a while by phone, but we didn’t see each other much after he moved. It was only for some stunt, Stenmark tells the site.
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But Stenmark can remember back to the time with Börje, and there is one particular memory that Ingemar can point to.
– We were a group of guys who traveled to Thailand together. That whole trip is perhaps the best memory. I remember when he came home on one occasion. There was thunder, hail and everything you can imagine. By then, Börje had been out paddling for six hours. Karln was completely exhausted.
What is your best memory of Börje Salming? Share the article and tell us!
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