Rasmus Sanden: “Borgy is such an icon”
Toronto. The stars of today’s Toronto Maple Leafs are too young to remember Borgy Salming as a hockey player, but the respect and admiration for the Swedish legend remains immense.
– He took me to lunch in Stockholm a few years ago and I was very nervous. Swedish full-back Rasmus Sanden, for example, says Borghi is such an icon.
Exactly how do they suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Puree Salming Honors will be held before or during the Maple Leafs game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Scotiabank Arena tonight and it hasn’t been announced yet, but one thing is for sure:
Active Leafs players will join the crowd in applause
Even if they are too young to have any memories of Börje on the ice, they have great respect and admiration for the Swede who, during his sixteen seasons as the Blue and White Maple Leaf, has become one of the world’s most beloved city heroes.
“I’ve never seen him play, but I know very well what he’s done here and what his status is in Toronto,” says captain John Tavares when he met the media after the so-called morning warm-up in the luxury home lounge.
He’s playing his toughest game right now and we wholeheartedly support him in the fight.
‘It will be surreal’
Veteran full-back Mark Giordano is on the same line.
– The moment to celebrate him here this weekend is going to be totally surreal. I can’t imagine how you would feel.
In fact, the team’s six Swedes – William Nylander, Rasmus Sanden, Kali Yarnrock, Pierre Engvall, Timothy Lilligreen, and Eric Calgren – can’t. To them, “BJ” is like a godfather.
A few years ago he took me to lunch in Stockholm, says Sanden.
– I was nervous. As soon as he heard that voice… My dad was there too and he was even more nervous, because it was Börje who grew up like his idol.
The 22-year-old doesn’t remember any special advice.
– No, he just warned me about the media in Toronto, he smiles and is met with fits of laughter from the media in Toronto.
– It was more than just the fact that he took me and invited me to lunch. I will never forget that. It is such a symbol.
Tonight’s match starts at Scotiabank Arena at 01.00 Swedish time. Then Daniel Alfredsson and the Seiden brothers – the Swedes who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday – will also be celebrated on ice.
