Hallam, just like most others in the ice hockey world, has been touched by Börje Salming's illness with ALS.

And he joins the chorus of praise.

- Börje is for me as for the Swedes in Swedish hockey, a pioneer, a guy who walks straight into the fire and gave many Swedes an opportunity and opened the door.

It's a "class act", everything he does, says Hallam and continues:

- It's fantastic to see the love he gets and you understand what a fantastic person he is when you see the reaction he arouses in people.

Jonathan Dahlén and Joel Lassinantti have also seen the tribute. 

- I think they eat very hard to put into words.

It's a lot of emotions, incredibly cool at the same time as it's... well, hard to put into words.

It is a very nice tribute, well deserved, to one of our greatest, says Jonathan Dahlén.

Lassinanti:

- It is touching.

First of all, it is very sad, what happened.

Somehow it's the course of life, that not everyone can be healthy.

Then you realize that you need to take advantage of all the days you get to feel good.

Very sad for Börje and his whole family... he deserves that tribute.

Hope he gets positive energy so he can fight on, he says.

Börje Salming is celebrated here in Toronto:

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See the crowd's cheers when Börje Salming is celebrated in Toronto.

Photo: Frank Gunn/AP