Last week, the Viaplay series “Börje – The Journey of a Legend” premiered. Where you can follow Börje Salming’s journey from Kiruna to North America and NHL games.
In the same week, four NHL games were also played in Sweden.
One of the stars who were present in Stockholm was Mats Sundin. The Swedish great player tells DN about when he moved from the Quebec Nordiques to the Toronto Maple Leafs as a youngster – the club where Börje Salming played for 16 seasons.
– Börje was a great mentor for me. He helped me when I came to Toronto and explained what it means to play for the Maple Leafs, which is completely unique compared to other clubs, says Mats Sundin.
Image 1 of 3 Mats Sundin together with Nicklas Lidström, who last week became the first recipient of the annual “Börje Salming Courage Award”. Photo: Jesper Zerman/Bildbyrån Image 2 of 3 During the NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Börje Salming was celebrated, among other things, with a ceremonial drawing when Toronto met Detroit. The players also played with stickers for Börje Salming’s als foundation on their helmets. Photo: Maxim Thoré/Bildbyrån Image 3 of 3 Toronto players Calle Järnkrok, Timothy Liljegren, William Nylander and William Lagesson at the premiere of “Börje – The Journey of a Legend”. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT
It didn’t take many seasons before “Sudden” was asked to become team captain for the Canadian big club. He then turned to Börje Salming for advice.
– He immediately replied that: “You have to agree to that.” It’s an incredible honor to captain the team, especially in Toronto.” He himself had declined when he was asked and he regretted it. So when I spoke to Börje, it was clear.
Mats Sundin, himself with over 1,300 NHL games, then explains why Börje Salming made such a big impression in North American hockey:
– He was such an incredible pioneer for all Swedish players and straightened out this question mark that I think many sports managers had about Europeans and Swedes. That we couldn’t stand the tough North American game, which was much, much worse back then.
– When he got there, it was really brutal. He showed that we are also doing well and can be big stars over there. He was really the one who made sure that they opened their eyes to us Europeans and showed the way to the rest of us, says Mats Sundin.
Image 1 of 2 “Nicklas Lidström had Börje as his big idol, but if you ask the Canadian players of my generation and a little older, they also had Börje as their big idol. That says a little about what he meant in the NHL,” says Mats Sundin. Photo: Leif R Jansson/TT Image 2 of 2 Börje Salming in action with the Toronto Maple Leafs in October 1974. Photo: Jan Düsing/EXP/TT
Many Swedish NHL supporters took Avicii arena over the weekend. There were also a lot of supporters who accompanied their teams all the way from North America.
Bill Eicher visited Sweden with his wife, to visit family living in Stockholm and to watch the Maple Leafs’ two games. Raised just outside Toronto, he is a lifelong supporter and has followed the club for almost 60 years.
– Börje became a fan favorite right away. He stole the show. He had to go through a lot of mockery and rudeness, because he was one of the first Swedish players to come over. But he was a great player and we really loved watching him play, says Bill Eicher.
Image 1 of 3 John Tavares in a duel against a Minnesota player in Avicii arena. Photo: Simon Hastegård/Bildbyrån Image 2 of 3 Max Domi together with William Nylander in the colors of the Maple Leafs. Photo: Chris Young/AP Image 3 of 3 Peter Forsberg and Tie Domi at Mats Sundin’s wedding. The Canadian played together with Mats Sundin in Toronto for ten seasons. Photo: Stefan Söderström/TT
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had 18 team captains during the club’s 106 seasons in the NHL. Today, the captain’s name is John Tavares and the Canadian has a “C” on his chest for the fifth season in a row.
The 33-year-old talks about the meeting with Börje Salming when the Swedish legend was visiting Toronto last year.
– It was very special, the moments we had with him towards the end. You could really feel from the fans, the city and the organization how much he means to Toronto. That really says a lot, considering the history of the Maple Leafs, how long the organization has existed and all the great players who have come and gone, says John Tavares.
The captain then continues:
– Now getting to experience this in Sweden has also had a big impact on us as a group and especially on myself. We talked a little with Mats about what Börje meant to the organization and to Swedish hockey. It’s great to be here, to wear his badge on our shoulders and feel the legacy and everything he did for the club.
Börje Salming was celebrated by the Toronto audience one last time on November 11, 2022. Photo: Frank Gunn/AP
Another player with a big Toronto connection is the forward Max Domi. He himself joined the club as recently as last summer – but growing up, he got to watch closely when his father Tie Domi played together with Mats Sundin in the Maple Leafs for a number of seasons.
He did not have time to see “Mister Salming” play live himself. Instead, the 28-year-old has heard from Mats Sundin about what Börje Salming meant to Swedish hockey and to Toronto.
– We talked this week about how he paved the way for other Swedes to follow, and especially for Mats and “Willy” (William Nylander) and the other Swedes who wore blue and white. Börje is truly a legend in our sport and we are very lucky to be able to wear the same shirt as he did, says Max Domi.
Börje Salming received a standing ovation from 16,486 spectators in his home arena Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto when Tre Kronor met Canada in the Canada Cup in 1976. Photo: Leif Engberg
With support from Börje Salming played Mats Sundin as team captain in one of the NHL’s most heavily guarded clubs for ten seasons. Today, Toronto’s North American stars stand in interviews and talk about how grateful they are to have great Swedish players on their team.
But it wasn’t just on and around the ice that Börje Salming made his mark.
– He also gave me a secret fishing spot that I have up in the mountains, where I fish char and trout, which we have been going back to for 28 years now. It was thanks to Börje that I was able to get there, he had contacts in one of the Sami villages, says Mats Sundin.
– He was such a person Börje, you could talk to him at any time. He was so incredibly accessible and he really was a superstar in all of North America.
Survey. More Toronto voices about Börje Salming
Sheldon Keefe, head coach of the Maple Leafs
”When he was in Toronto last year, you could feel the impact he made and the respect he had from his peers, those who played with him and those who played against him. Now that we are in Sweden, you can also see the love for him here.
The connection we have, with several fantastic Swedes who have come here over the years – we talked about Mats Sundin the other night, William Nylander who led the way here in Stockholm and we have a total of five Swedes in the squad. None of this would have happened without him, so in that way, his legacy is huge and it will only continue going forward.”
Mark Giordano, NHL veteran raised in Toronto
”My father has told many stories. I haven’t seen him play myself, it was a bit before my time. But from what dad says, he’s a legend on the ice. Now that I play for the ‘Leafs’ I also get to know the history and what he meant to the organization and the people around it. It’s an incredible legacy and career.
To come here and see the support all Swedish players get is incredible. Also hearing how much respect everyone has for Börje and how much he means to Swedish hockey.”
William Lagesson, Swedish defender from Gothenburg
”After all, he was one of the first Swedes to come to the NHL. We were at the Börje premiere and it was cool to see, then you got a little more insight into what it was like when he got there.”
Calle Järnkrok, Swedish forward from Gävle
”A true legend in Toronto and always will be. Especially at that game when he was there last season, then you really noticed what a legend he is and how big he is over there.”
Auston Matthews, big star in the NHL
”I look forward to watching the series and getting a better understanding of what he went through during his journey. Obviously, he’s very well-liked in Toronto and someone who has done a lot of great things for this organization.”
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2023-11-24 05:41:06
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