PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Börje Salming has been praised throughout the hockey world in recent days.
Now the Swedish hockey icon is getting an incredibly special tribute in his hometown.
– We decide here and now that we will rename the street, says Kiruna’s municipal councilor Gunnar Selberg according to NSD.
Over the weekend, the entire hockey world united to pay tribute and support the one who deserves it the most right now, namely Börje Salming. For two straight days, the Swedish hockey icon was celebrated out on the ice in the Scotiabank Arena and there were huge emotional scenes throughout Toronto.
Tribute to Börje
The next tribute for the ALS-sick 71-year-old will be on Thursday when he will be celebrated on Swedish soil in connection with the “Hockey Gala of the Times” in Avicii Arena when the Swedish Hockey Association celebrates 100 years. On Monday evening, it also became clear that Salming will receive the most righteous tribute in his home town of Kiruna.
The article continues after the picture.
When the municipal council met in Kiruna last night, it was decided that Börje Salming will have his very own street with his name on it in Kiruna. And it’s not just any street either, but the road that one of Swedish hockey’s greatest grew up on.
READ MORE: NHL expert Håkan Södergren almost breaks down when he pays tribute to Börje Salming with five fantastic words
Salming’s own street
Matojärvigatan in Kiruna will now be renamed Börje Salmings gata. The ultimate tribute that a Kirunabo can receive.
– We have all seen the celebration in Toronto of Kirunasonen Salming. Börje is sick. We’ve all seen what it’s like with him. He lived on Matojärvigatan. He lived a stone’s throw from the ice barn. I suggest that we depart from all routines and that we rename Matojärvigatan to Börje Salmings gata. We decide here and now that we will rename Matojärvigatan, says the municipal councilor Gunnar Selberg according to the local newspaper NSD.
The article continues after the picture.
Börje Salming broke through in the parent club Kiruna AIF in the late 60s before he took the step over to Brynäs and then on to North America to play in the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was 17 seasons in the world’s best hockey league and a total of 787 points in 1,148 games in the NHL for the Swedish pioneer.
READ MORE: William Nylander is now praised for the detail during the strong tribute to Börje Salming: “Deserves all respect”