During Thursday, the Times Hockey Gala took place, where Swedish ice hockey celebrated 100 years.
Börje Salming was highly praised on several occasions – and also received fine prizes in front of an emotional audience.
Now Börje’s wife Pia has announced the future of the family.
In the Avicii Arena, Swedish ice hockey celebrated 100 years on Thursday evening. The gala was high-profile when pretty much all Swedish ice hockey legends were present to take part in the celebration. Among many other things got Nicklas Lidström and Kim Martin Hasson receive an award as Sweden’s all-time best hockey player.
Salming was praised
On site was also Börje Salming, who received a standing ovation just a few minutes into the gala. The seriously ill legend later received an award from the NHL, and also received the award for “Moment of the Ages” in front of teary-eyed spectators.
– We in the whole family, Börje and I and all the children here want to thank you for the love that the entire Swedish people and Canada have given us throughout this difficult time. Börje says he loves you all, greeted the wife Pia Salming from the stage during the gala.
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Last weekend Salming and his family were in Canada and Toronto to be honored by the club he once belonged to and where he achieved godlike status, so the schedule has been hectic to say the least.
“Will close the door”
Yesterday’s gala was thus the last appearance that Börje Salming and his family will make, something that wife Pia Salming declared shortly after the gala ended.
– We will close the door to the outside world from today. We are happy and grateful. We are warmed by the love we get from Sweden. We get letters sent to us, people are amazing. We take one day at a time, Börje decides. He has the baton, said Pia Salming in SVT’s studio.
READ MORE: NHL expert Håkan Södergren almost breaks down when he pays tribute to Börje Salming with five fantastic words