PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The Toronto Maple Leafs paid tribute to Börje Salming.
An initiative that is highly praised by Pia Salming.
– So nice that they take the opportunity, she says to Sportbibeln.
Börje Salming is a big icon in the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Swede spent 16 seasons with the club during the 70s and 80s, and is one of the best defensemen to ever play in the NHL.
Toronto’s gesture
Right now, Toronto is in Sweden for the NHL Global Series in Stockholm. Before the departure across the Atlantic, the club, led by Mark Fraser (the club’s culture and inclusion manager), wanted to do something special to honor Börjes Salming. Then they contacted the Stockholm Sami Association.
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During Thursday, some of the players visited the Sami association. Also Pia Hymn was there.
– Mark, who was the initiator of this, we met in Gävle when Börje’s flag was hung. Then he got a Sami bracelet from me, and that was a bit of a starting point for the whole thing. He himself works with those issues in Canada, and felt that he wanted to find a collaboration between the countries there as well. Different aborigines and with racism and everything.
– So I was there and met the chairman of the Sami association, her employees and the Toronto Maple Leafs, says Pia to Sportbibeln.
Pia’s tribute
How do you feel about them wanting to get into Börje’s background?
– It is so touching to see how many people are interested in Börje’s background and what it means, great. It feels like it’s causing ripples in the water a little bit, Börje as a person has made such a big impression on so many. As with these bracelets that the whole family wears, Börje has worn a lot of Sami bracelets all his life. But also the big issue behind it, this with minority groups, oppression and racism. Which is as relevant today as it has always been.
– That’s why I think it’s so nice that the NHL and Mark from Toronto are taking this opportunity. Contact the chairman of the Sámi Parliament himself and create this gathering, where you can learn both about Börje’s background as a Sámi and what it has meant. It strengthens the ties between the countries even more, says Pia.
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How much contact have you had with Toronto in the past year?
– I haven’t had much contact. I know they are always there, they have always been there for us, they are our family. But I have my own grieving process to go through, no one can help me with it. So I join when I feel I can take it.
– But when I see what we can achieve, and when I see all this power that comes from the NHL, and the willingness of all the partners we get… As I said, it makes the water rung. It’s getting bigger and bigger, and we just want to help people who have been diagnosed with ALS. To be able to do that, it’s all about collecting money, says Pia.
READ MORE: Börje Salming had one wish for the TV series about himself – and it warms everyone’s heart: “He didn’t want it”
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