Reactions in Toronto were strong after the news of Porgy Salming’s death.
Mayor John Tory paid tribute to the important role Salming plays, not only for the sake of the sport but also for the city:
“King will be remembered for the incredible impact he had on our city,” he wrote on Twitter.
Tributes poured in for Börje Salming from several places in North America, Canada and Toronto where Börje Salming played for 17 years, 16 of which were for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Outside the team’s Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, a statue of Purée Salming has been standing since 2015. Flowers were laid there Thursday. The large screen of the square on the facade also showed a large picture of the Swede.
Many NHL and AHL clubs wanted to honor him, not only in Canada.
“The legacy of his strength and determination will be with all of us forever,” the Los Angeles Kings wrote on Twitter.
“A true pioneer,” the Ottawa Senators wrote.
“The coolest and most convenient”
In Toronto, Mayor John Tory wrote that his thoughts and the city’s hockey fans go out to their loved ones.
“From Sweden to Toronto, ‘The King’ will be remembered for the incredible impact he had on our city,” Tory tweeted, continuing:
“I’m grateful he was able to be here earlier this month and have a moment of courage and love on the ice,” he said, referring to Salming’s visit to Scotiabank Arena.
Canadian sports TV profiler Michael Grange has shared anecdotes about how he met Porgy Salming as a young hockey fan.
Grange: “I will never forget it because: A. It’s not every day that you face one of your sporting heroes. B: He was the coolest, fittest, most invincible human being ever.”
City News Toronto interviewed fans who stopped by the Salming statue outside the Scotiabank Arena following news of his death.
– It’s a heavy message. A young man says it is very sad news.
He was amazing, one of the best defenders I’ve ever seen. Another guy says he’s an incredible person.
– He always gives everything, you can always trust him, – says one woman.
“They called him King. From start to finish, it seemed like a very fitting nickname for Salming. He was King. He was the Hockey Kings. He was a giant character, and he was very strong on and off the ice,” wrote Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun.
“Long live the king”
Simmons calls it “the biggest ‘leaf’ we’ve ever seen” and concludes his column:
“Long live the king.”
Even the Toronto Star’s Rosie DiMano pays tribute to Salming, calling him an icon, trailblazer, and teacher who changed the game of ice hockey and earned respect from the most skeptical of opponents.
Damien Cox of the Toronto Star writes that it is difficult to place him in the club’s history because it is a chapter of its own – and that is how special Salming is. Cox claims Salming could have been bigger at another club, but he was loyal to Toronto – and gave his all no matter what he played for or against.
“Porgy Salming was the soul of ‘The Papers,'” Cox wrote.