Toronto. Now Daniel Alfredsson, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin are looking down from Mount Rushmore Hockey League.
During a fun, hilarious, and seriously blue-yellow party in Toronto last night, they were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame.
– It’s been an incredible journey to have led here, Henrik said during a speech in which he joked well with his twin brother and, like many others, paid tribute to Boeh Salming.
The Hockey Hall of Fame celebrations have been going on in Toronto since last Friday — and not in the least include a memorable tribute to ALS patients. Salming puree — but the night culminated with a sparkling balloon at Meridian Hall a few shots from Scotiabank Arena.
And as a total of three Swedes were included in this year’s recruits category – a resounding record – the entire celebration was in a strong shade of blue and yellow. In many respects, this was a tribute to Swedish hockey and all the “na” stars who have traveled across the Atlantic over the past half century and made their mark on North American hockey.
Börje Salming wasn’t in attendance, but he remained in Toronto and, according to legend Lanny MacDonald, watched the telecast with his old friends Darrell Sittler and Tiger Williams and their families – and he was showered with praise.
Salming was applauded from the stage
NHL Commissioner Gary Bateman described, for example, that all European players who have been successful in the NHL since the 1970s have stood on Poiret’s shoulders.
– Börje, you are in our thoughts and prayers, affirm.
Daniel Alfredson He was awarded his Hall of Fame plaque by countryman Mats Sundin and jokingly expressed his surprise that after all the fights for Toronto and Ottawa, they were still such close friends.
– But I have always admired Mats and saw him as a role model, he indicated with a smile.
Alfie paid tribute to his mother
The Senators’ captain reiterated once again that he thought it was almost surreal to be inducted into hockey’s finest community, thanked Erik Carlson among many others and saluted his entire family – not the least of which was late mother Margarita, whom he described as “undoubtedly the toughest of all the Alfredsons” .
For once, the two Sedan brothers had to make separate appearances and each gave a speech — then took the opportunity to mock each other.
– Henrik, quite frankly: I see that you are a better hockey player and a better person. Daniel smiled, I say so knowing full well that in ten minutes you’ll be standing here to make your speech.
Henrik’s response came quickly:
– I just recovered from covid and was on the verge of not being able to come, but at the last minute I went anyway. Because as our coaches always said: “Henrik is 70 percent better than Daniel is 100 percent better”.
The Sadins thanked everything and everyone
But they also had warm things to say about what they meant to each other, and also thanked their family and friends such as Markus Näslund, Matthias Ohlund and Thomas Graden. Järved and Modo at home in Ö-vik also received honest mentions.
– It’s been a really great trip led here, Henrik stated.
Star guard Roberto Luongo — a teammate of the Vancouver Twins for eight years — was also inducted last night, as were Finnish women’s hockey icon Rikka Salinen and, posthumously, Herb Carnegie. Billed as the best black player who didn’t stand a chance in the NHL, due to the horrific discrimination in North America in the 1940s and 1950s, his children gave a glowing speech against racism and for their inclusion in Tonight’s Party.
Former Hall of Fame legends such as Nicklas Lidström, Mats Sundin, Teemu Selänne, Jari Kurri and Dominik Hasek were in the audience – they also received kind tributes.