The documentary series Salmingsgenen contains the last real interview with Börje Salming.
It was completed before he had difficulty speaking and moving due to ALS.
– I just wanted to have fun, says the ice hockey legend.
In the SVT documentary, we can follow the time just before the illness was announced, during the illness and after Boré Salming’s death.
The idea behind the production was that Bianca Salming wanted to know more about her father’s profession and get to know him better.
For the 24-year-old track and field athlete, the sporting venture was an ambition to become the best in the world.
– I didn’t think I would be the best in the world, I just had fun. I thought it was a lot of fun, and training was almost more fun than playing the games. When others slacked off, I gave the iron there too and covered the shots in practice. I was a bit stupid in my head, I guess. If you do it in training, it will automatically happen in matches as well, says Boré-Salming.
“Do they have to curse?”
When Bianca Salming suffered a heel injury, Boré Salming talked about missing a week with back problems at the beginning of his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
– I don’t know if I participated in the fight and misunderstood it. I was gone for about a week, then I heard from the guys that I was a typical Swede. “He didn’t last long. He’ll be back soon.” Then I thought they would be cursed because of it. “I wanted to show these bastards when they were talking nonsense,” says Buré-Salming.
Despite several serious injuries, Boré Salming often returned faster than expected thanks to his self-sacrificing attitude and solid psychology.
– The pain may sometimes increase until you get better. When I was beaten, I would panic and then go out and run over these bastards. There were three or four madmen who I knew wanted to kill me. I thought if these bastards came I would brush their teeth. “I brought that with me to the matches, and accused myself of something good,” says Boré-Salming.
“No bastard hit me.”
For 17 seasons until the age of 39, he remained at the top of the NHL.
– When it was training camp and these new stars came and they were going to play and we were walking around at intervals, and not a single bastard hit me. Yes, he said, “Don’t let anyone pass me by.” If there was someone in front, I told myself that next time I would show them where the closet should be, says Boré-Salming.
Bureh Salming died at the age of 71 on November 24, 2022.
Salminggen is available in three-hour segments on SVT Play from November 19.