PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Over the weekend, Börje Salming received the love of the hockey world.
One of those present was Mikael Renberg, who was moved to tears.
– I think he is very brave, who shows himself and his weakest self, says an emotional Renberg to Radiosporten.
The entire hockey weekend was awarded Börje Salming and the dreaded ALS disease. Two days in a row, the Swedish hockey icon was celebrated in the most powerful and beautiful way out on the ice in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ home arena Scotiabank Arena.
Tributes to Börje
Few hockey players have touched as many as the 71-year-old has over so many years and the love he received back over the weekend was so incredibly genuine. One of those present was the Swedish NHL legend Mikael Renberg.
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The 50-year-old was invited to play the legendary match between Team Sundin and Team Lindros, when the legendary chain “Legion of Doom” reunited with Eric Lindros and John LeClair.
– There is a lot of talk about Börje and many people in Toronto walk around wearing Salming shirts. After all, I’ve seen the tributes on TV and played the Hall of Fame game myself. Basically everything has been about Börje and his illness and all the tributes to him, says Renberg to Radiosporten about the emotional weekend.
READ MORE: NHL expert Håkan Södergren almost breaks down when he pays tribute to Börje Salming with five fantastic words
Renberg’s beautiful words
Börje Salming played a full 16 seasons and over 1,000 games in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs and is still called “The King” in the hockey-crazy city. The Swede also stands as a statue in the city and his jersey number is forever immortalized on the ceiling.
– Börje is very, very big over there and extremely popular. It is above all the older generation who remember Börje and they are the ones who praise him the most and walk around in his shirts, says Renberg in the interview.
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The ALS-sick 71-year-old has been praised by the entire hockey world in recent days, but alongside him as a legendary hockey player and a fantastic person, Mikael Renberg also wants to pay tribute to Börje’s great courage this weekend.
– I think it has been tough. But I think he is very brave, showing himself and his weakest self, if you say so. ALS gets a face via Börje and I think it’s very brave and well done by him to step out onto the ice twice like that. So that people can see how serious it is and I think it was very, very moving. There were many tears that fell from my eyes and also from LeClair’s eyes when we sat and watched TV together, Renberg tells the radio channel.
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READ MORE: William Nylander is now praised for the detail during the strong tribute to Börje Salming: “Deserves all respect”