When Börje Salming's wife, Pia, called Darryl Sittler this past July to tell him that her husband had been diagnosed with ALS, the former Toronto Maple Leafs captain sprung into action.
He immediately reached out to another former teammate, Mark Kirton, and put him in touch with the Salming family.
Kirton, who played parts of the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons with Salming and Sittler on the Maple Leafs, was diagnosed with the debilitating illness four years ago after first experiencing symptoms seven years ago.
"He was very well connected in the Canadian community of ALS," Sittler told Ron MacLean on Saturday night during Hockey Night in Canada. "So, we put Börje in touch and we had a number of zoom calls. Mark was awesome — giving the family suggestions and tips about medical things, trial drugs, all those sorts of things that made a difference for Börje.”
Sittler added that Kirton was instrumental in guiding the Salming family through the difficult decision to announce his diagnosis to the hockey world.
"Mark Kirton was awesome at that," said Sittler. "He encouraged Börje to get it out there."
Sittler and Salming, who became close friends during their run as Maple Leafs teammates in the 1970s, are in Toronto this weekend for the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. They shared an emotional moment during the pre-game ceremony on Friday and, on Saturday, Salming dropped the ceremonial puck during a tribute ahead of the Maple Leafs' game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Salming, who recently lost his ability to speak, made the trip from Sweden with his family.
"I remember Börje saying to me, 'Darryl, I'm gonna be there for the Hall of Fame Game in November,'" said Sittler. "And he's here and it's amazing that he's here. We didn't know obviously until about a day before.”
Sittler added that he learned years ago about Salming's toughness. When the defenceman first arrived in the NHL, "it wasn't an easy road for him. Guys were spearing him and trying to intimidate and just being mean to him.
"But it made him a stronger player, every game, and that's the character and man he is. And that's why this is all happening this week."
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