Darryl Sittler, 72, was the team captain in Toronto for a large part of Börje Salming's sixteen years in the classic NHL club Toronto.

During those years they became close friends and that friendship lasted throughout their lives.

- I was with Börje and his family all the way, right up until today.

When they were here in Toronto, before that and when they went back to Sweden.

I received a message from Börje's daughter this morning and of course I was shocked that it happened as quickly as it did.

But after spending time with him, I knew it was getting worse quickly and that it could happen at any time, says Sittler.

Darryl Sittler has been involved as Salming has been highly praised in recent weeks.

- That Börje made it to Toronto and we had two fantastic evenings here, and the beautiful farewell in Sweden.

The script could not have been written better for Börje.

Keep your feet on the ground

Sittler highlights that Salming, despite his enormous success in ice hockey, kept his feet on the ground throughout his life.

- Börje was a humble man.

Players like (Nicklas) Lidström admired him and he was a forerunner for many European players.

But it never changed him as a person.

That he was able to make it to Toronto despite his illness was thanks to how strong and tough he was.

In the 1976 Canada Cup, both Stiller and Salming were part of the All Star five that was named after the tournament.

It is the memory that Sittler chooses when asked to choose one.

- We played in Maple Leaf Garden.

I played for Canada, but he got the biggest ovation.

Bobby Orr, one of the best players of all time was there, but the supporters really appreciated Börje and who he was.

He concludes by describing how big Salming was and is in Toronto and Canada.

- We love our heroes here and Börje was one of them, even though he was from Sweden.

Our Canadian ice hockey supporters, or Maple Leafs supporters, hold him in the same high regard as the rest of us, if not even higher.

Börje Salming was 71 years old.

CLIP: Salming's ovation in the 1976 Canada Cup was named the Moment of the Times at the Hockey Gala of the Times

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Salming's standing ovation - Canada Cup 1976