Börje Salming
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1996
Salming in 2012
Born (1951-04-17)17 April 1951
Salmi, Sweden
Died 24 November 2022(2022-11-24) (aged 71)
Nacka, Sweden[1]
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Brynäs IF
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
AIK Hockey
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 1967–1993
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1973 Soviet Union
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Czechoslovakia

Anders Börje Salming (Swedish: [ˈbœ̂rjɛ ˈsâlːmɪŋ] (listenⓘ); 17 April 1951 – 24 November 2022) was a Swedish ice hockey player. He was a defenceman who played professionally for 23 seasons, for the clubs Brynäs IF, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and AIK. He spent 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs, who retired his number 21 in 2016. Salming holds several Maple Leafs records, including the most assists.

Salming was one of the first European players to make an impact in the National Hockey League (NHL), for which he is often considered a trailblazer, being named to six consecutive NHL All-Star Teams, winning the NHL All-Star Games of 1976, 1977 and 1978, alongside being named a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy on several occasions.[2] In 1996, his first year of eligibility, Salming became the first European born and trained player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017, the NHL named Salming one of the 100 Greatest Players in the first century of the league.

Salming played internationally for the Sweden men's national ice hockey team, winning silver and bronze medals at the Ice Hockey World Championships. He also played at three Canada Cups and the 1992 Winter Olympics. In recognition of his international career, Salming was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998, and named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008.

Salming was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in July 2022. He died on 24 November 2022, days after accepting an award in what his wife announced on his behalf would be the family's final public appearance.

Early life

Salming was born on 17 April 1951 in the village of Salmi in what is now Kiruna Municipality, near Torneträsk in Jukkasjärvi Parish. His father, Erland (1921–1956), was of Sami origin, while his mother, Karin (née Persson, 1927–2022), was Swedish. His paternal grandfather Anders Nikolaus had the surname of Sarri, but changed it to Salming after the village that he and his father (Börje's great-grandfather) had built up. His father was a miner who died in a mining accident when Salming was 5 years old. Salming's older brother, and role model growing up, Stig Salming (b.1947) also played hockey, for Brynäs IF between 1968 and 1981, becoming Swedish champions six times.

Salming identified himself as indigenous Sámi and was included in the electoral roll for Sametinget. He also shared his experiences growing up as indigenous in his native Kiruna and supported the struggle for Indigenous peoples' human rights on national TV.[3] As a reflection of his Sámi heritage, Salming often wore a traditional Sami pewter bracelet.[4]

The Salming family resided close to a ice skating hall called Matojärvi hall where Börje started skating at the age of 6. He also played handball during his childhood.

Playing career

Swedish leagues

Salming played with Kiruna AIF in Sweden's Division 2 from 1967 to 1970 before joining Brynäs in the top division between 1970 and 1973. Brynäs won league championships in 1971 and 1972 with Salming on the squad. The team's success attracted attention from Toronto Maple Leafs scout Gerry McNamara, who was initially sent to investigate Inge Hammarström, but was more impressed by Salming after seeing him play.[5] The Maple Leafs signed Salming as a free agent on 12 May 1973.[6]

After leaving the National Hockey League (NHL) he completed his pro hockey career with AIK of the Swedish Elite League.[7] One of the opponents he faced at AIK was young defenceman Niklas Lidstrom, who credited Salming with encouraging his own career.[8]

National Hockey League

Salming made his NHL debut with the Leafs at the beginning of the 1973–74 NHL season against the Buffalo Sabres. After a 7–4 victory, Salming was named the best player of the game.[5] By the end of the season, Salming had recorded 39 points.[5]

Prior to Salming's arrival in the NHL, most North Americans considered European players too soft to play in the NHL.[8] North American ice hockey was played in a more physical style on a smaller rink, and hockey fights were common, while European ice hockey emphasised speed and skill on a larger ice surface. NHL sources even referred to players from Sweden as "Chicken Swedes."[9] Salming's strong performances helped to permanently eradicate that reputation.[5]

On 4 September 1986, Salming was suspended by the NHL for eight regular season games and fined $500, because he was quoted in a Toronto newspaper in May saying that he used cocaine "five, six years ago, but not since and I feel good about saying no." The league initially suspended him for the entire season, then commuted the suspension.[10] On 26 November 1986, late in a game between the Leafs and the Red Wings in Detroit, Salming was knocked down in front of the Leafs net and Gerard Gallant of the Red Wings accidentally cut Salming's face with his skate blade. The injury required facial cosmetic surgery that involved more than 200 stitches.[11]

On 4 January 1988, Salming became the first European born and trained player to appear in 1,000 career NHL games. In recognition of his achievement, on 27 January (in Salming's 1,011th game), he was gifted a car driven onto the ice by his parents and friend Inge Hammarström in a surprise pre-game ceremony, inspired by a similar ceremony given by the Philadelphia Flyers to Bill Barber.[12]

In 1989, after 16 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he signed as a free agent with the Red Wings, for whom he played one season to finish his career in the NHL.[7]

In the NHL, he played 1148 regular season games (1099 of them with the Leafs) and 81 playoff games, scoring totals of 150 goals and 637 assists.[13] Salming was named a First Team All-Star in 1977, and was selected to the Second Team in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1980.[6] Salming spent 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs, recording 768 points (148 goals, 620 assists).[5] The other Toronto players nicknamed him 'The King'.[8]

International play

Salming had an extensive international playing career.[14] He played for the Swedish national team at the 1972 and 1973 World Championships, winning a silver and bronze medal, respectively.[15] He also played at the Canada Cup in 1976, 1981, and 1984; and the 1992 Winter Olympics.[16] During the 1976 Canada Cup, which was held at Maple Leaf Gardens. Sweden faced Team USA in Toronto, Salming received a standing ovation.[17] Salming later commented, "I'll never forget our game in Toronto. The fans gave me a standing ovation during the introductions. I was representing my country and Canadian fans gave me a standing ovation. Sometimes hockey has no country."[18][19] In recognition of his international career, Salming was named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008, one of five players honoured.[20]

Retirement

Salming with All-Star Legends 2008 in Toronto

After the end of his playing career, Salming launched an eponymous brand of sports underwear.[21] In 2007, at age 56, he posed nude for 31 paintings by Swedish graffiti artist Johan Wattberg. Ten of the paintings were displayed in Sweden, with the remaining 21 (matching his jersey number) displayed in Toronto.[22]

Personal life

Early in his career as a Leaf, Salming resided in the High Park neighbourhood in Toronto with his wife Margitta, a children's-wear designer;[23][24] they later divorced.[25]

In 2016, he married Pia Salming.[26] Salming had four children: Theresa and Anders with first wife Margitta, and Rasmus and Bianca with his ex-partner Katarina. His daughter Bianca Salming is a heptathlete.[27]

Health issues and death

In February 2022, Salming began to experience an unusual twitching motion in his muscles, which later forced him to prematurely exit an alumni game in March.[28] In mid-July, Salming was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease.[28] On 10 August, Salming publicly revealed his diagnosis via a statement shared through the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.[29] Following his diagnosis, Salming developed severe depression.[30] Appearing in public on 17 October, for the first time since his diagnosis, Salming revealed that his condition had worsened: he had lost the ability to speak, requiring him to use a tablet computer for communication, and required a feeding tube for meals.[31]

On 11 November 2022, despite his diagnosis, Salming made the annual trip to Toronto for the Maple Leafs' Hall of Fame induction weekend game, where he was part of an emotional pre-game moment where lifelong friend Darryl Sittler helped Salming wave to the crowd.[32][33] The following night, the Maple Leafs honoured Salming in their game against the Vancouver Canucks, featuring a pre-game ceremony dedicated to the defender where a tearful Salming dropped the puck in the ceremonial face off. The Maple Leafs selected a unique starting line-up of six Swedish players to honour Salming's career.[34][35]

The following week, on 17 November 2022, Salming was elected to the all-star team of the century and was awarded the NHL's Honorary Award at a ceremony in Sweden. Following the ceremony, Salming's wife announced that the event would be the family's final appearance.[36]

One week later, on 24 November 2022, Salming died at the age of 71.[1][37][38] His death made national headlines in Canada and in Sweden, with several organizations, athletes, and celebrities offering tributes to his life.[39] For the remainder of the 2022–23 NHL season, the Maple Leafs wore commemorative shoulder patches in Salming's honour, with the team also making several donations to ALS research.[40] On 30 November 2022, a moment of silence was held at Scotiabank Arena to honour him during a game where the San Jose Sharks visited the Toronto Maple Leafs.[41] A private funeral was held at Skogskyrkogården on December 20, 2022.[42] Three days earlier, his mother Karin died aged 95.

One year after his death, the Börje Salming Courage Award was established, which is given to the European NHL alumnus who has been a positive influence in their community and best embodies Salming's legacy.[43] Nicklas Lidström, who had considered Salming to be his personal hero, was awarded the inaugural trophy on 16 November, 2023.[43]

Honours and awards

Salming's exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame

In November 1996, Salming became the first Swedish player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[44] In 2017, the NHL itself named Salming one of the '100 Greatest Players' in league history.[45]

On 4 October 2006, Salming's no. 21 was honoured by the Leafs in a ceremony, along with Red Kelly's and Hap Day's no. 4, before their first game of the 2006–07 season.[46] On 15 October 2016, to mark the centennial season of the Maple Leafs organization, Salming's number 21 was formally retired in a pre-game ceremony alongside other franchise greats who received the same honour for their respective numbers.[47]

Records

  • Salming holds six career and single season Toronto Maple Leaf records including most career points by a defenceman, most career goals by a defenceman, most career assists (any position), most assists in a season by a defenceman, and best career plus-minus.[61]
  • First Swedish (and European) player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[61]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Salming is immortalized with a statue at Legends Row in front of Scotiabank Arena
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1967–68 Kiruna AIF SWE II 8———— —————
1968–69 Kiruna AIF SWE II 13———— —————
1969–70 Kiruna AIF SWE II 165—5— —————
1970–71 Brynäs IF SWE 140556 1321316
1971–72 Brynäs IF SWE 1411220 1404430
1972–73 Brynäs IF SWE 1423520 1231424
1973–74 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 765343948 40114
1974–75 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6012253734 70446
1975–76 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7816415770 103479
1976–77 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7612667846 93696
1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 8016607670 62246
1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7817567376 60118
1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7419527194 31122
1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7256166154 30224
1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 69124456170 —————
1982–83 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6973845104 414510
1983–84 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6853843192 —————
1984–85 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7363339176 —————
1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 417152248 1016714
1986–87 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 564162042 1303314
1987–88 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 662242682 61348
1988–89 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 633172086 —————
1989–90 Detroit Red Wings NHL 492171952 —————
1990–91 AIK IF SEL 36491346 —————
1991–92 AIK IF SEL 386142098 30226
1992–93 AIK IF SEL 610110 —————
SWE totals 42391246 39561170
NHL totals 1,1481506377871,344 8112374991
SEL totals 80112334154 30226

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1968 Sweden EJC 51014
1969 Sweden EJC 50008
1972 Sweden WC 40006
1973 Sweden WC 1046104
1976 Sweden CC 54372
1981 Sweden CC 502210
1989 Sweden WC 81128
1991 Sweden CC 600010
1992 Sweden OG 84374
Junior totals 1010112
Senior totals 4613152848

References

  1. 1 2 Yttergren, Alma (25 November 2022). "Börje Salming dog omgiven av familjen – vännen: "Trodde inte det skulle gå så fort"". Nyheter24 (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 "James Norris Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Sweden, Sveriges Television AB, Stockholm. "Jag var en lägre ras – 1. Vi har alltid funnits här". Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via SVT Play.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "Gratis medlemsregister, hemsida och hantering av medlemsavgifter för föreningar – Svenskalag.se". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Borje Salming Biography at Legends of Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Borje Salming". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Salming, Borje – Statistics, Awards & Career". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  8. 1 2 3 Nugent-Bowman, Daniel. "Salming showed his strength, on and off the ice, until the end". The Athletic.
  9. ↑ "Some chicken, some Swede: When Borje Salming first arrived in the National league, in 1973, he got the usual chicken Swede greeting from North American players, but figures a few elbows cured that". Toronto Star. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Salming Suspended". The New York Times. 5 September 1986.
  11. ↑ "Surgery for Salming". The New York Times. 28 November 1986.
  12. ↑ Stellick, Gord (5 January 2017). "The story behind Borje Salming's awkward 1,000th-game tribute". Sportsnet. Rogers Communications. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Borje Salming's profile at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  14. ↑ "Börje Salming – en historisk karriär". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  15. ↑ Podnieks, Andrew (24 November 2022). "Borje Salming, 1951–2022". IIHF.com. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  16. ↑ Podnieks, Andrew, ed. (2010). IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2011. Toronto: Moydart Press. p. 503. OCLC 815626952.
  17. ↑ "Induction Showcase – Borje Salming". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  18. ↑ Patrick Houda. "Most Popular Player in 1976 Wasn't Canadian". Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  19. ↑ Video of Salming ovation on YouTube
  20. ↑ "Who are the best six of all time?". IIHF.com. 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "Borje Salming the subject of portrait series by Swedish graffiti artist". NHL.com. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "Salming poses nude for artist". theglobeandmail.com. 23 May 2007.
  23. ↑ "Hockey star Borje Salming, part-owner of new restaurant, Downtown, and wife Margitta, a children's wear designer, are served by a waitress wearing a d(...)". digitalarchive.tpl.ca. Toronto Star Archives: Toronto Star. 17 January 1987. Retrieved 26 November 2022. Original Toronto Star caption: Hockey star Borje Salming, part-owner of new restaurant, Downtown, and wife Margitta, a children's wear designer, are served by a waitress wearing a design by Margitta – red dress with collar and cuffs and cut-out back.
  24. ↑ Irel, Carolyn (11 May 2017). "Home of the Week: Spacious High Park house once belonged to Leafs star". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 26 November 2022. 8 HIGH PARK GARDENS ... The previous owners Borje and Margitta Salming bought the house in the 1970s. ... Living in Toronto's High Park neighbourhood in the early 1990s, Linda and Michael Hutcheon would often walk along High Park Gardens... The Hutcheons didn't realize it at first, but the house belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs player Borje Salming. Mr. Salming was a trail blazing Swede who became the first European player to gain star status in the National Hockey League when he joined the Leafs in 1973.
  25. ↑ DiManno, Rosie (12 November 2022). "Leafs legend Börje Salming always seemed immortal. This weekend's tributes have been heartwarming, and hard". Toronto Star. Retrieved 26 November 2022. Eventually Margitta was described as Salming's fiancée, which she indeed became. Later still, his wife and ultimately his ex-wife.
  26. ↑ "Börje Salming har gift sig: "Det känns underbart"". Expressen. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "Bianca Salming: "Varför skulle jag inte? Jag har ju en Salming-gen"". Expressen. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  28. 1 2 Johnston, Chris (17 October 2022). "Borje Salming's outlook worsening as family fights for Maple Leafs legend". North Star Bets. NordStar Capital. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  29. ↑ Toronto Maple Leafs [@MapleLeafs] (10 August 2022). "Today, Maple Leafs great Börje Salming shared a statement (below) on his health" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  30. ↑ Nevin, Oliver (18 October 2022). "Former Leafs star Börje Salming and family share details of his struggle with ALS". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  31. ↑ Eriksson, Johan (17 October 2022). "Salmings svåra liv med ALS – kan inte längre prata". Expressen (in Swedish). Bonnier Group. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  32. ↑ "Sittler on Salming's return to Toronto: 'A moment like this gives him some happiness'". The Sports Network. Bell Media. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  33. ↑ Zeisberger, Mike (11 November 2022). "Salming creates emotional moment for fellow Maple Leafs legends, fans". National Hockey League. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  34. ↑ Kelly, Cathal (13 November 2022). "At a night honouring Borje Salming, the Leafs great gets his own Lou Gehrig moment". The Globe and Mail. The Woodbridge Company. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  35. ↑ Alter, David (12 November 2022). "Maple Leafs Honor Borje Salming with All-Swedish Starting Lineup vs. Canucks". Sports Illustrated Toronto Maple Leafs News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  36. ↑ "Börje Salming's wife gives update on his future after being awarded the NHL's Honorary Award". 18 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  37. ↑ "Börje Salming har gått bort" (in Swedish). SVT Sport. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  38. ↑ "Toronto Maple Leafs legend Börje Salming dies at 71". CTV News Toronto. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  39. ↑ "Maple Leafs legend, Hall of Famer Salming dies". ESPN.com. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  40. ↑ "Maple Leafs to make donation to ALS charity in honour of Borje Salming". Sportsnet. Rogers Communications. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  41. ↑ Clipperton, Joshua (30 November 2022). "Marner ties franchise record with 18-game point streak as Maple Leafs defeat Sharks". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  42. ↑ "Borje Salming buried in small private ceremony".
  43. 1 2 Zeisberger, Mike (16 November 2023). "Lidstrom 'true representation' of what Borje Salming Courage Award stands for". National Hockey League. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  44. ↑ Tina Nordlund (14 June 2003). "Jag blev en varg och slogs med en björn" (in Swedish). Sportbladet. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  45. ↑ "100 Greatest NHL Players". National Hockey League. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  46. ↑ Lance Hornby. "Salming reaches new heights". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  47. ↑ "Toronto Maple Leafs retire the numbers of 17 players". National Hockey League. October 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  48. ↑ Hagberg, Jan (24 November 2022). "Börje Salming är död". Senioren. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  49. 1 2 3 "NHL-legendaren Börje Salming är död". Dagens Nyheter. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022 – via www.dn.se.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 Vi får minnas alla bra saker med Börje Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  51. ↑ Barkemo, Mats. "Börje Salming – Canada Cup 1976". Gameday. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  52. ↑ "Centennial All-Star Team". webarchive.iihf.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  53. ↑ "Börje Salming's wife gives update on his future after being awarded the NHL's Honorary Award". 18 November 2022.
  54. ↑ "Viking Award – Viking Award Vinnare". www.vikingaward.se. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  55. ↑ "The Mysterious Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award". Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  56. ↑ "Börje Salming's wife gives update on his future after being awarded the NHL's Honorary Award". 18 November 2022.
  57. ↑ "Lot Detail – Borje Salming's 1979 Challenge Cup Game Worn Jersey". www.classicauctions.net. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  58. ↑ Ellis, Steven (24 November 2022). "Hockey Hall of Famer Borje Salming passes away after fight with ALS". Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  59. ↑ "Börje Salming". Swedish Olympic Committee (in Swedish). 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  60. ↑ "100-bästalistan en titt i historia och framtid". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  61. 1 2 "Maple Leafs legend Börje Salming dies at age 71". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  62. 1 2 "Börje Salming Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  63. ↑ "FAKTA: Börje Salmings karriär". Hockeysverige. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
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