PHOTO: Bildbyrån
We must never forget the icon Börje Salming.
And what he has done for Swedish sports over the years.
Börje himself has been named Sweden’s best hockey player ever and that is pure respect.
November 24, 2022 will forever be a day of mourning for Swedish hockey. Then one of our country’s biggest sports icons fell asleep, namely Börje Salming.
Salming’s greatness
He died in the aftermath of the incurable nerve disease ALS, but his name and legacy will live on in the Swedish hockey soul. Salming is one of our most beloved hockey heroes of all time and left a deep impression with his self-sacrificing style of play.
READ MORE: Inge Hammarström’s great irritation after the acclaimed TV series about Börje Salming’s life – now roars: “It was a disaster”
Börje became a pioneer in the NHL as one of the earliest Swedes to acclimatize and paved the way for so many compatriots to come after him. When he himself had to choose his very best memory from his career, the answer was always the same.
– It’s when I got a “standing ovation” in Toronto during the Canada Cup in 1976. If someone had asked me the day after, I wouldn’t have thought it was that big. But over time I have understood how big it was. I had no fucking idea that I would be so celebrated. I thought people would be so patriotic that I would be booed instead, he said in an interview with Sportmagasinet in 2006.
Börje’s very best
When the same newspaper was to name Sweden’s 100 best hockey players of all time, we found legends such as Thomas Steen in fifth place, Nicklas Lidström every four Mats Sundin came third and Salming came in second place, just beaten by first place Peter Forsberg. Salming was proud of his fine silver place on the list.
– Yes, really. It is always difficult to compare players from different generations. And it wasn’t at all the focus around the NHL in my time that it is today. So I am more than satisfied. It’s always fun to be appreciated, he said in the interview.
READ MORE: Dan Labraaten now says what all Swedes need to know about Börje Salming: “There is too much talk about how tough he was but…”
When Börje Salming himself then got the chance to choose who is Sweden’s best hockey player of all time, he thought hard. And then delivered the most respectful response as he reveals his one.
– Oh, oh, it’s hard. If I say “Sura-Pelle” (Ronald Pettersson) all the younger people say – who is that? But everyone who has seen him will agree that he was a great player. But I have to say Mats Sundin. If you look at all the decisive goals and contributions he has made in the Olympics and WC, you will be impressed.
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