Borje Salming’s battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease strikes chord with Daniel Alfredsson

© Provided by Ottawa Sun Borje Salming waves to the crowd as former Toronto Maple Leafs Darryl Sittler, left, and Mats Sundin stand by his side at centre ice in Toronto on Friday night.

TORONTO — The centre ice ceremony at Scotiabank Arena to honour Borje Salming was emotional and heartbreaking.

It’s only been a few months since the legendary former Toronto Maple Leafs’ defenceman and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee let the hockey world know that he was suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), but there he was at centre ice with former captain Daryl Sittler on Friday night, overcome with emotion.

Salming is one of only four Swedish players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he’ll be joined by twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin from the Vancouver Canucks and former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson in an induction ceremony Monday night.

“I’m heartbroken for him, to see what he’s going through,” Alfredsson said. “I haven’t spoken to him personally, but, just by reading the reports of how it’s advancing so quickly, you feel for him because he’s truly a Swedish hockey legend.

“He was a pioneer for Swedish hockey players. He came over and dealt with a lot of the adversities of playing in the NHL. The way he handled himself and proved himself day in and day out, it really paved the way for the next generation.”

Salming suited up for the Leafs from 1973 to 1989.

“This hits everybody because he was such an icon and a humble guy, too,” Alfredsson said. “He fought through so much. With the character he has, because he came back from all the injuries along with the scars and the stitches he has, he’s almost immortal.

“To see him the way he is, it’s heartbreaking and we all feel for him.”

© Bruce Bennett With Borje Salming, left, looking on, Daniel Alfredsson and Hockey Hall of Fame representative Lanny McDonald shake during pregame ceremonies on Friday in Toronto.

That’s one of the reasons it means so much for Alfredsson and the Sedins to join Salming, Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg and Nicklas Lidstrom in the Hall of Fame.

“I’m very proud of that because the foundation for my hockey career was built in Sweden,” Alfredsson said. “I consider myself very lucky to have really good youth coaches growing up. My dad (Hasse) coached me seven years, and maybe more, and I wasn’t always happy about that, but most of the time he was really good.

“There were other coaches that made a big impact and they set the stage for me to be able to pursue hockey professionally. That’s why I’m very proud to be one of three Swedish players going in this year.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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