PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Börje Salming has always been there for Mats Sundin.
Now “Sudden” reveals the icon’s strong words to him in Toronto.
– I will never forget that, he says in the podcast “Halv Tre with Lotta Bromé”.
1989 was elected Mats Sundin as number 1 in the NHL draft and wrote Swedish sports history as the very first to do so. There were first games in the Québec Nordiques and then “Sudden” would make the big move to the classic Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sundin & Salming
Sundin would then become an icon in Toronto and he had good help acclimating in his new hometown thanks to the legendary Börje Salming. Together, they are two of the Maple Leafs’ greatest players of all time and both stand like statues in the hockey-crazy city.
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That’s why it was so incredibly nice to see both reunited in the old hometown when ALS sufferer Salming was recently celebrated in Toronto. Side by side with Sundin, the 71-year-old received the audience’s great cheers in the most emotional scenes.
READ MORE: Börje Salming is now highly praised by ALS sufferer Heléne – emotional words for the hockey icon: “Thank you Börje”
Börje’s strong words
In connection with the tributes to Börje Salming, Mats Sundin also got to pay his personal tribute to the icon and childhood idol. And then Sudden also reveals the strong words that Salming said to him in Toronto about what he regrets the most from his career.
– Throughout my career, it was Börje Salming I talked to, when I came to the Toronto Maple Leafs we talked about what it means to play for the team. He was then my mentor and when I was asked to become team captain, I talked to Börje. He told me, and I’ll never forget it, that if you’re asked to be captain, of course you should say yes because it’s an incredibly nice recognition and something that you should do. He himself said that he had refused and that he regretted not saying yes, says Sundin in the podcast “Halv Tre med Lotta Bromé”.
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Mats Sundin really suffers with Börje and his fight against the nerve disease ALS.
– Börje is really the one who, I think for all of us who played hockey but also fans and the media, the one who is significant for a hockey player. Börje was really such a warrior on the ice and I really hope that he maintains that during this fight against the terrible disease.
READ MORE: Börje Salming’s tears and warm hugs in the hockey world’s most emotional meeting: “Two real warriors”