Borje Salming
Borje Salming was born in Kiruna, Norrbotten County, Sweden on April 17th, 1951 and is the Hockey Player. At the age of 73, Borje Salming biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 73 years old, Borje Salming has this physical status:
Anders Börje Salming (born 17 April 1951), also known as "The King," is a retired Swedish ice hockey defenseman.
He played for Brynches IF, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Detroit Red Wings, and AIK.
Salming was one of the first European players to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), paving the way for future generations of players.
He was one of the top defensemen of his time in the NHL, and he was honoured for his contribution by induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.
He has been remembered for his many years with the Maple Leafs, including the most assists.
Salming has also played for Sweden extensively in international play.
He was recognized for his efforts by being named to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team.
Salming was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017 by the Associated Press.
Early life
Salming was born in the village of Salmi in Kiruna, near Torneträsk in Jukkasjärvi Parish, on April 17 1951. His father, Erland, was of Sami origins, but Karin, his mother, is Swedish. Anders Nikolaus, his paternal grandfather, had the name Saari, but it had to Salming after the village was grew up by his father (Börje's great-grandfather) in Börje. When Salming was 5 years old, his father was a mineworker and died in a mine fire accident. He is proud of his Sami roots and wears a traditional Sami pewter bracelet. He is the first person of Sami origins to play in a top North American professional sports league.
He followed in his older brother Stig Salming's footsteps by playing ice hockey and also playing handball.
Playing career
Salming competed with Kiruna AIF in Sweden's Division 2 from 1967 to 1970, before joining Brynäs in the top division between 1970 and 1973. With Salming on the team, Brynäs won league championships in 1971 and 1972. Salming was officially signed as a free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 12, 1973. Salming was not the Leafs' intended target when they began scouting in Sweden; they were actually interested in Inge Hammarström, but Scout Gerry McNamara responded positively on Salming after seeing him play.
Salming made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Leafs in the 1973–74 NHL season against the Buffalo Sabres. Salming was voted the best player of the game after a 7–4 victory. Salming had scored 39 points at the end of the season.
The consensus in North American ice hockey circles prior to Börje Salming's birth was that European players in general lacked the patience to play NHL ice hockey, with some from Sweden even referred to as "Chicken Swedes." Salming did much to damage the image on the internet. He appeared in 1148 regular season games (both with the Leafs), 81 playoff games, and earned 141 goals and 637 assists in the NHL.
Salming was selected as a member of the First Team All-Star in 1977, 1976, 1979, and 1980. Salming spent 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs, scoring 768 points (148 goals, 620 assists).
Salming was suspended by the NHL for eight regular-season games and fined $500 because he was quoted in a Toronto newspaper in May that used cocaine "five, six years ago, but not now," he says. He was initially suspended for the entire season but then commuted his suspension. Salming was knocked down in front of the Leafs net on November 26, 1986, while the Red Wings' Gerard Gallant mistakenly cut Salming's face with his skate blade. More than 200 stitches were used to reconstruct facial cosmetic surgery due to the injury.
He became a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1989, when he spent 16 years with the Maple Leafs, and he continued his hockey career. He played for AIK of the Swedish Elite League, finishing his pro hockey career.