The statue was created by the artist Tjåsa Gusfors, who got the idea when she noticed the Kiruna residents' great commitment to a statue of Börje Salming.
Crafted from ice in proportional size, it depicts the hockey legend in full hockey gear and wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs game jersey.
The circle closes in Jukkasjärvi
Börje Salming was born in Jukkasjärvi parish and the circle is closed when the statue takes place inside the village's ice hotel.
- I thought it would take a long time, but it was quickly made into ice.
We want to give our guests the opportunity to donate money to Börje Salming's ALS foundation and the public is welcome to honor him, says Icehotel CEO Marie Herrey.
In the clip, Marie Herrey tells how Börje Salming himself was involved in designing the statue before he died.