Hockey legend Borje Salming will be honoured with a statue and a street named after him in his native Sweden.
At the famous Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi — not far from Salming’s home town of Kiruna — a life-sized ice sculpture of Salming will be installed in a place of honour this Sunday.
The hotel, which attracts visitors from all over the world, is created with Arctic ice from the Torne River.
In the presence of his family and residents of Kiruna and in consultation with Borje Salming’s ALS foundation, the statue will be unveiled to the public in Jukkasjarvi.
At the same time, Borje Salming Street will be inaugurated in the presence of municipal councillor Gunnar Selberg.
The ice sculpture of Salming, which will be on view all year ‘round at the Icehotel, was created by the artist Tjasa Gusfors and shows the hockey great in a Maple Leafs jersey and full skate gear.
Salming had been able to follow the creation of the ice statue and watch it take shape; as with the standing ovation he received at the Leafs versus Vancouver Canucks game recently in Toronto, the 71-year-old saw the love and respect of fans before he died of ALS on Nov. 24.
Marie Herrey, CEO of the Icehotel, spoke of how much Salming meant to so many people, “And not least to the residents here in Kiruna, where he grew up and began his hockey career.”
She described him as an athlete of dignity, and a generous person, “who acted as a mentor to other athletes and was engaged in social issues.”
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During Sunday’s unveiling, there will be an opportunity for guests to donate to Borje Salming’s ALS foundation, which works to draw attention to ALS and contribute to the research to find a cure.
The statue unveiling will be broadcast live on the Icehotel’s Facebook page, Sunday at 10 a.m. EST.
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