PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Swedish hockey lost one of its greatest when Börje Salming fell asleep.
Brother Stig Salming reveals the legend’s last plea in life.
– He wanted it and everyone has lined up around him, older brother Salming tells P4 Gävleborg.
Lately, the hockey world has been united in the great sadness and longing for Börje Salming. The Swedish hockey icon fell asleep on Thursday evening after battling the tough nerve disease ALS for several months, he was 71 years old.
Salming’s demise
Since then, tributes, condolences and unforgettable memories of Börje have poured in from Sweden and North America, where he colored so many people’s lives. But also from other parts of the big hockey world, nice words about Salming’s greatness have been spread to remember a true icon.
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The last time in life was extremely emotional for Börje Salming, who was first celebrated for two consecutive days in his former hometown of Toronto. Where the Maple Leafs audience got to shower the Swede with their great love and warm applause in the home arena Scotiabank Arena.
READ MORE: The wonderful image of Börje Salming is spreading throughout Sweden after the icon’s passing: “I didn’t know this”
Börje’s last will
Then Börje returned to Swedish soil again to participate in the Swedish Ice Hockey Association’s 100th anniversary during the “Hockey Gala of the Ages” in Avicii Arena. Swedish hockey’s biggest profiles were gathered and it truly was an evening in Salming’s great honor as he was celebrated with a standing ovation and awarded prizes for the “All Star Team of the Times” and the “Moment of the Times”.
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After his passing, elder brother tells Stig Salming how important it was for Börje to have that final farewell to both Toronto and the Swedish hockey family. It was entirely the 71-year-old’s will to complete the trip to Canada.
– He presented it as a demand that he wanted to go and everyone has lined up around him with medical teams and everything. So they got all the help to be able to solve it for Börje’s sake, says brother Stig to P4 Gävleborg.
– Börje also wanted to participate in the anniversary in the way it was done, I don’t think Börje could receive a better tribute for what he has done on hockey arenas and what he has shown as a personality when it comes to the game of ice hockey. It’s a fantastically nice ending for Börje in that way, but it’s tragic when it goes so fast.
READ MORE: Now Börje Salming can be celebrated with his very own statue on Swedish soil: “He has done so much for us”
Just a week after the tributes, Börje fell asleep in his home surrounded by his immediate family. Stig Salming was with his brother until the end and was by his side for his last breath.
– I was there after the gala on Thursday, Friday and went home on Saturday afternoon. Then I got a message when I’m on my way here to Stockholm again, I get a call on the way down that it’s in a hurry and Börje is so bad there that I can make it and get to be with Börje for the last 45 minutes. That’s how fast it went, says Stig in the radio interview.
– I was there when he fell asleep and it was nice in a way, but very tragic.