PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Stig Salming has played with many talented hockey players.
But one stood out – and the answer warms everyone’s heart.
– He has made the biggest impression on me, says Stig to Sportbibeln.
Stig Salming spent his entire career at home in Sweden. But that didn’t stop the former hockey player from playing with and against a lot of talented players. After arriving in Kiruna AIF, the transfer team went to Brynäs, where Stig became a club icon.
Salming’s dream five
This after playing in the team for 13 years and then coaching the club for six years. As a player, Stig won six SM golds with the Gävle association. He also played 81 matches for Tre Kronor over a five-year period, and took part in winning World Cup silver and two World Cup bronzes.
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Stig managed to be matched with a bunch of fantastic players. But picking out a dream five is still not a big challenge for him.
– It will undeniably be that I choose Brynäs then, the formation with which we played many seasons together. Then I choose to have Begin (Hymn) on the reverse side, and then Lars-Göran Nilsson, Hans Lindbergand Jan-Erik Luck. And Wille Löfqvist in the goal, of course. It’s probably the formation that has the most number of games together so… yes, it was a good formation, says Stig to Sportbibeln.
Toughest opponent
Who is the best player you have played against?
– I have had the opportunity to play against Wayne Gretzky for example, but it’s only on occasional occasions, so that… No, you’re allowed to say something like (Valery) Kharlamov. Players like this, that is, Russian players who have been damn good, they are undeniably the ones I will think of. So I choose to say Charlamov, says Stig.
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What did Charlamov do so well?
– He was a complete hockey player. That’s right – to stand out from the crowd. Because at that level there are so many people who are incredibly talented. But I’ve probably played against that particular player a few times anyway. The players in Canada and the United States have only had a few occasions, so it is a bit more difficult to make that assessment when you have to look at your own way of playing, and who you have played against.
READ MORE: Stig Salming’s heartbreaking confession about the tough year without little brother Börje Salming: “It’s an incredible loss”
Tributes to Börje
Who would you say is the best player you have played with?
– Yes, it’s probably Börje, I’m allowed to say that. It is he who has made the biggest impression on me, in the team I have played myself, that’s how it is, concludes Stig Salming.
READ MORE: Stig Salming’s beautiful words to Bianca Salming – opening up about their relationship today: “Trying to support her”
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