NHL Hall of Famer and Toronto Maple Leafs legend Börje Salming has passed away at the age of 71 after a battle with ALS.
He is being remembered for his many seasons with the Maple Leafs where he played in over 1000 games, he holds numerous franchise records, including most assists for the Leafs.
In 1996, he became the first Swedish hockey player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In 1998, he was ranked 74th on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest National Hockey League Players, the only player from Sweden on the list.
Salming blazed the trail for European players in the NHL.
Here’s a statement from Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan on the passing of Börje Salming:
Below a couple of my hockey idols growing up: Darryl Sittler and Börje Salming, forever teammates, this just was taken at the Hockey Hall of Fame weekend recently.
Below my Börje Salming book that’s now on my list to read:
As a kid growing up playing street or pond hockey in Cape Breton, I’d yell out when playing defence “I’m Salming!”
When my second son Trent was born on March 21st, 1999 at the IWK, I thought how cool it was he was born on the day with Börje Salming’s number 21, later Trent wore # 21 playing defence for the TASA Ducks which was pretty cool for this hockey Dad.
Rest in peace in Hockey Heaven, “King Salming.”
-Ian
