Good evening guys, we are now approaching Detroit.
Börje Salming can do it all.
Whether battling the hated habs or facing Orr and the big bad Bruins,
Salming's becoming an NHL superstar.
I've never seen anything like this, incredible.
Börje Salming has quickly become a fan favourite in Hogtown.
And he is loved by his teammates, including fellow Swede,
Inge Hammarström and the great entertainer Eddie Shack.
Salming is electrifying.
And he's adapting to the rough and tumble North American style.
Now the whistle has gone!
It's Gordie Howe to Salming.
Oh, the linesmen stepped in.
Neil Armstrong holding on to Howe. Ron Finn holding on to Salming.
We're gonna replay on it here and probably see more of the fight.
In three years since Salming came,
we were becoming a team to reckon with.
Last playoff season, we took the Philadelphia Flyers.
Yeah, the Stanley Cup champs to seven full games.
Yeah, we were a brand new team.
And Salming, he had become a brand new father.
Yeah, you can take that. There's two of them. I'll check on Anders.
There's a lot up in the air as the teams prepare for the Canada Cup
which is just around the corner.
And now for the first time they'll be able to use
all their players from both the WHA and the NHL.
The Swedes gave the Canadians
a run for their money in the Summit Series.
- What the hell. - And they're boasting
an incredible squad with the likes of Salming and Hammarström
from the Toronto Maple Leaves.
There's a couple of players
that have been making their rounds in the newly founded WHA.
Namely Bergman, Högberg, and Hedberg,
who all play for the Winnipeg Jets, have come through.
Hi guys.
Oh Börje, nice shirt!
- Thank you. - Wow.
- You look so nice. - Thanks.
You know what that is?
It's bad.
Oh come on, it's Mozart.
You know what it is right?
Be nice to Mum and Christine, okay?
- Okay. - Alright.
- You ready? - I'm right behind you.
- Goodbye, darling. - I love you.
- Say hi from me. - Come here.
I will.
- Have a nice time. - Come on, Howie.
Don't wait up.
Right, don't be too bad.
Let's go to school.
I'll tell you what, you got to like the puck movement.
Hold on, just...
Watch this, here.
Just watch for a second.
Red's got him working hard.
You got to like that, no?
What is Hammarström doing? Can you explain that to me?
Staying out of trouble?
You can't tell me he's a real Maple Leaf, huh?
One that digs in with his heart and soul!
Inge goes into the corner with a dozen eggs in his pocket
and doesn't break a single one.
It's embarrassing.
It sets a bad example.
You're being a little hard on Hammarström, okay?
He's not a physical player, he's not a fighter.
But he brings other assets to this team.
He brings speed, technique.
It's the reason we've been kicked out of the quarter finals
three years in a row.
We don't have enough players who are willing to get their hands dirty!
Harold.
Hockey's changing.
Okay?
Look at Montreal.
They won the Stanley Cup by beating Philly, by outsmarting them.
They built a game on speed, finesse, technique.
Which is why we need guys like Inge.
We need guys like Howie.
- You've gone soft Jim. - In addition to stars like Salming.
Look at Börje, the bottom of the pile.
Being exactly where a defenceman should be and he scores goals.
I don't know who I'm talking to, talking to the wall. You know what?
This is a waste of time. You enjoy the game.
Keep watching, keep learning.
I missed a meatloaf dinner for this.
Get out of here.
Before that season began, there was this new tournament,
it was called the Canada Cup.
That meant the six best countries in the world
were gonna play for this trophy.
And Sweden was one of them.
Which meant Salmings' big brother was gonna be in town.
I mean for three years, all we heard was all the stories
about the amazing Salming brothers.
So I was looking forward to see if the proof was in the pudding.
Mr Salming, Mr McKenny, how are we doing?
Quit the act, Tony.
Let me take your coats.
You'll leave your job when we find another joint.
But here, take Börje's if it keeps your cute face around a bit longer.
Go fuck yourself.
Ciao.
Is that him? Big brother Salming?
- Yes. - Mr Salming, sign an autograph?
Looks like Sonny.
- Sonny? - Yeah, in that movie.
This made my day.
- The Godfather. - Thank you.
The older brother with the bad temper.
Don't say that to him, he's going to break your jaw.
Stigge!
Börje!
Right.
And this is... This is Howie.
My good friend and teammate I've been talking about.
- Hey. - How are you?
- I've heard so much about you. - Yeah?
Börje here tells me you're a bit of a tough guy.
- What? - I was just joking with him earlier.
So let's sit down.
Good evening gentlemen, pleasure to have you here tonight.
What can I get you?
Börje.
I'll take a scotch, Gina.
- Cognac, please. - Coming right up Mr Salming.
Fancy.
So, how was your trip?
- Good. - Yeah, long?
Yeah.
How long was it?
Long.
Long trips, I can't stand them. Right?
Fancy place.
Yeah, Börje likes it fancy.
- Yeah? - Don't listen to him.
See? Touchy subject.
Inge!
Stigge.
That bastard.
All this hugging.
You've never said no to that, right?
Look how buff you are.
I wish I could say the same.
Oh, and I've been working so hard.
That won't get you anywhere.
Look at him.
He's gleaming.
Well...
I bet you a hundred bucks
he's late because he was out with one of his ladies.
What do you say big brother, take me up on that?
No.
What are you having, guys?
God. Sorry about that, he just wouldn't fall asleep.
It's no worries.
I took the liberty of pouring myself a glass of wine.
And then I happened to notice these on the wood pile.
Yeah.
Why were they on the wood pile?
I've just been cleaning out my old studio and...
You're not gonna burn, them are you?
I mean they're...
We're turning it into a nursery
so they're just casualties of war, I guess.
But they're so good.
- I don't like them. - Why?
Because they're not good, they're bad.
No, these are not bad.
This one, I've never seen anything like this. It's amazing.
You're sweet but we still need the space.
What about your space?
And where's your studio gonna be
once you turn the space you're using now into a nursery?
Well, I don't know if you've noticed but
I won't have that much time for drawing.
That is exactly what I'm talking about.
You've stopped putting yourself first.
You cook, you do the cleaning, you take care of Anders all the time.
You have become the perfect hockey wife.
Yeah, well we're a family and that's what you do for family.
You of all people should know that.
Doesn't it bug you?
I mean we're here all day long, stuck in this house,
and they're just out on the road all the time.
Yes, of course but I mean, we wouldn't have any of this.
Like, you wouldn't have your house, I wouldn't have this house
unless they would be out on the road, right?
This is what you dreamt of when you were in Sweden?
No.
But it's...
That one's crooked.
So make it straight.
Reunited.
Must feel great, huh?
Though I understand he can be a bit of a headache, this one.
Steals all the girls and drinks you under the table.
Yeah. It's great to be reunited.
And in the Maple Leaf Gardens.
Magic.
Sorry for being rude Stig, but it's real nice,
after having to get to know Börje that I finally meet his big brother.
So tell me, who are you? What's your life like back in Sweden?
I don't know what to say.
I'm Börje's brother.
I live in Gävle where Börje and Margitta used to live.
- And Inge too. - Yeah.
I'd like to visit Gävle some time.
It's not much to see.
Good thing you don't have to.
I just mean that, it's not like Stockholm were they have museums
- and castles and stuff too... - No...
If you're like Börje who's really into castles and museums and
fancy restaurants with fancy wine and fancy cheese then no.
Maybe Gävle might not be the place for you.
That's not what I meant.
If you say so.
Otherwise, one might think all the peripheral stuff
was more important than winning.
Hey, Tony!
Another scotch.
- That's not how it is. - So why aren't you winning?
You've gone down in the quarter finals three years in a row.
I guess we have to work harder.
And get tougher and stronger quicker.
That's the only way, right?
What about the rest of the team? Do they agree?
If you're gonna win, everyone needs to pull the same direction.
Like in Brynäs.
Wouldn't wanna watch you waste your time if it doesn't
lead to any trophies.
I've got to take a piss.
It's a beautiful language.
Hey, Inge.
I saw Harold chewed you out in the papers.
The thing with the egg.
Harold is Harold. Right?
Nah.
That was a low blow, man.
We can't afford to lose you.
So you need to toughen up.
And not for him, for us.
So you don't get traded.
Don't get me wrong. It's not like you're chickening out, out there.
It's just that this game was made in blood, okay.
That's the gig. That's how it got huge.
Pay with it, you get paid with it.
It's just the way it is.
Börje Salming.
Can I help you?
Certainly.
I'm Johnny. Owner of the Toronto Toros.
What do you want?
Forgive me if I'm being too forward.
But God knows you're a hard man to catch, Salming.
And I have an offer worth the trouble.
Not interested, I belong to the Maple Leafs.
For you and your brother, to come and play for us.
Stig is just too good for that league in Sweden.
And you deserve more
than wasting your time with constant brawls on the ice.
You ought to start playing hockey again.
Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull have already joined.
But the exodus has only just begun.
More and more players are starting to realise
that the Stanley Cup has lost its shine.
And the real price is the Avco world trophy.
I don't know.
You came here to compete against the best, right?
To show your mettle on the ice.
To win titles.
Of course.
But I'm afraid now you're just being reduced to a punching bag.
Think about it.
Real hockey.
Talk to your brother.
See if he's interested.
And listen...
Money is not an issue.
You just say a number.
We're gonna put Teddy in it. Is this Teddy's ride?
- Doesn't fit in there. - Does he go head first in?
Don't think so.
I think he goes in legs first. There.
Like that.
Look. That's nice, isn't it?
No, be nice to Teddy.
Come here.
I don't know, Howie.
It's in your head. You're thinking too much out there.
Calculating risk, you're like an accountant on skates. Smart.
I mean too smart.
Listen, we need to find a way to awaken your primal instincts.
Then, you'll fight.
You'll probably fight better than all of us put together.
Wake my primal instincts?
Okay, so what's your master plan then?
Universal medicine.
Oh come on, women and booze!
The gateway to the animal in you.
It's true, okay?
Look you need to stop being Inge, and become Inge! You hear?
I mean, it even sounds like a gruesome Nordic god!
Drink, dance, and get laid and, who knows, maybe get into some trouble.
I don't know...
Hey guys.
- Hey. - Hey.
Howie! Trying to get our competition into trouble?
Ah, classic! Always up to some shenanigans?
- Darryl Sittler. - Stig.
Captain of the ship. This is Lanny.
Moustache of the ship.
Free ride for you anytime, bud.
Big brother and I are best friends by now, ain't that right Stig?
No.
With the Salming brothers reunited
we might actually have some competition?
You bet.
Hey boys, what would you like?
Anything, on the house. I got all the stars.
- I'll take another scotch. - Labatt 50.
- Salming? - Cognac.
- Make that two for me. - Whisky on the rocks.
On the rocks. One juice?
No, I'll stick with water.
- Drinking water in my house? - Tony, shots. You want a shot?
- No. - You need a shot.
- I don't need a shot. - Shots!
- No, I don't want any. - Shots!
Here are the combinations.
Back here!
- Good, come on. - Börje!
- Very good. - Good job.
Very good, Börje and Stigge. Nice work, Inge.
Coach for Three Crowns. Unbelievable.
It's great to see you and your brother playing together again.
- We've missed that at home. - We have.
Good job, boys!
Come on, boys, work harder.
Salming. He's good.
Well, that's old news, Johnny.
I'm not talking about Börje.
I'm talking about the other Salming.
His big brother.
Yeah, we've got enough defencemen at the moment.
Who let Johnny in?
It's an open training Harold.
Open training? We never have an open training.
You rented the arena out for the Canada Cup,
they got rules of their own.
All that aside, what the fuck is he doing here?
- That looks like Bobby next to him. - That's what I mean!
Maybe they're scouting players, so what?
They're lightweights.
Besides, if we're both after someone down there
they'll choose us every day of the week.
Just keep an eye on them.
Okay Harold. But I got to tell you,
you're starting to sound like you're getting paranoid?
I mean the feud with the Toros is over.
It's dead and buried and you won.
Feuds like that never die, Clancy.
They just fester.
I'm sorry...
All I see in the other Salming is he's got a good shot.
But I mean, he's tough as nails but... World class?
Nah. I don't think so.
Don't you see?
There's an opportunity here.
We can pinch Ballard's' gold nugget.
And show everyone that the Toros is a force to be reckoned with.
I'm not sure I follow.
If we get Stig Salming, we can get Börje.
Remember Bobby, blood is thicker than water.
I mean look at them. It's like they're kids again.
Very good, Börje.
You held back a bit out there today.
Hey, I...
I'm happy you're here, Stigge.
I have to go sort something out, but...
I'll meet you at the car.
Okay.
- Börje. - Hey.
Everything all right?
Have you seen Joe or Douglas?
No, they all left.
You know, taking a well deserved break.
With the Canada Cup and all.
Not you though.
You know me.
So, you finally come to learn how to cut skates,
or are you gonna tell me what's wrong?
Come on kid, spit it out.
The other day when I was in the toilet, when I was...
When I peed. There was blood.
Okay.
Well I mean,
you got to tell the doctor about it for sure.
But I mean from what I know, I mean, these things happen
when your body's exhausted or you've taken a bad hit.
Yeah, some problems with my back as well.
Same place as before?
Yeah, but worse.
I know it's useless telling you to take a rest
but I wanna show you something.
Look at this.
A guy came in years ago, wearing this.
Woman's team in the '20s used to use it,
you know, to keep everything in place.
But it's also really good for stabilising the back.
Anyway, the guy comes in
and it still got the cups on so I took them off,
you know, did some alterations, it really helped him.
Really helped his back.
Problem was, the rest of the team kept ribbing him about it
and the idiot never used it again.
Oh, tabarnak.
I gotta go pick up my wife. Hold that for a second.
You'll tell the doctor about those other things, right?
Yeah.
Close the door, right?
Me and our coach, we were watching you guys practice.
He also thought you were really impressive.
You're just too good to be in the Swedish leagues.
See the thing is, that I think...
Don't touch the car.
Sorry.
It was also interesting to see
how much your brother's play is influenced by you,
and how effortless it seems to be between the two of you.
Looks like you two are having fun out there.
Yeah, we like playing together.
Yeah. The thing is,
soon the NHL is gonna be filled with nothing but a bunch of hooligans
who never learned how to skate.
Börje.
- How are you, Harold? - Oh my God.
Come here, let me talk to you for a moment.
Fit, ready to play?
The greatest hockey player of all time.
Must be great, having your brother in town.
- It's great. - I want to tell you something.
You know to do what I do, I have to wear a lot of hats.
I play a lot of different roles but with you,
for some reason I feel like I forget all of that and be myself.
Why is that?
- I don't know, Harold. - Because we're both working class!
Self made men.
And we know the value of loyalty.
You know...
when my wife died...
I learned a very important thing.
Take care of those you love while you still can.
And you, you are like a son to me.
But I've let you down, I haven't given you the tools you need
to bring the Stanley Cup home.
But I promise you...
I will give you a team that deserves your talent.
A coaching team that deserves your talent.
So you can bring it across the line. What do you think of that?
- Sounds good, Harold. - Alright. Good man.
Now go get 'em tiger.
- Punch! - Harold. How are you?
Hey. Meet Börje. My boy.
Pleased to meet you, Börje.
Incredible hockey player.
You see, the NHL and more specifically the Maple Leafs,
are weekend entertainment for the well-off.
Your everyday working man can no longer afford the price of a ticket,
and if he saves up a couple of weeks worth of wages to buy a ticket,
all he gets in return are all out brawls and feckless boxing matches.
At some point, Börje is gonna get fed up with it.
And then the question is, what's next.
Right.
Okay...
I don't understand what you mean.
Okay, let me rephrase.
We want to reunite the Salming brothers.
Think about it. Maybe talk to Börje about it.
I'm sure he's smart enough to listen to you.
Make the right choice.
We'll keep in touch, Stig.
Took your bloody time.
Yeah, I just had to sort some stuff out.
You weren't waiting out here for that long.
Long enough.
Hey, you wanna drive?
- Does the bear shit in the woods? - I think it does.
That first Canada Cup, well, it was weird.
You know, seeing him play in that yellow, Swedish jersey.
But one thing's for sure, he loved playing with his brother.
Oh yeah, you could see it.
I mean, Börje always had this steely look on his face when he played.
But with his brother it was like, it was like his whole body just smiled.
And Sweden, they started that tournament great.
They beat the Americans, tied the Russians,
but next up that was us, Canada.
And in Maple Leaf Gardens against a bunch of his teammates, well...
I was a bit worried Börje wouldn't feel too welcome that night.
Welcome to Toronto and the Maple Leaf Gardens, Mecca of hockey.
Where Sweden will tonight play...
- Börje, are you in here? - Yeah, I'm coming.
What the hell is this?
I had to sort my gloves out, they're a bit worn.
What?
Are you nervous?
Of course I'm not nervous. Let's go.
Hard when you're hiding in Santa's little workshop.
I'm not hiding, I just fixed my gloves.
Börje Salming and Inge Hammarström,
who play for the Toronto Maple Leafs,
are about to glide onto the ice
in front of their home audience, in their home stadium.
Hey Tiger, you're taking your time, you can't miss this!
What are you shouting about?
It's Börje.
The Kiruna boy.
Number five, Börje Salming.
You can hear the applause,
here at Maple Leaf Gardens for Börje Salming.
Many are standing.
I said many are standing, now everyone in the building
is standing for Börje Salming.
Börje, Börje, Börje...!
Börje!
And what was it like?
Can hardly describe it, you know.
Some people say it was like, a defining moment.
I'm not sure.
I do know that some decisions you can never make.
It's like the universe just
conspires together and makes it happen.
And I know in that moment, Börje knew.
I mean every fibre of his body knew,
that Toronto,
yeah, the Toronto Maple Leafs, this was home.
And that ovation that night, I'll tell you,
it kicked our Canadian butts in gear,
because after that moment, oh man, we played possessed.
Like demons.
We won that Canada Cup.
Börje's brother, well, he went back to Sweden.
WHA finally left Salming alone.
And man I'll tell you we were all looking forward to the season
I mean we were just all pumped, ready to go.
Hey, Börje, look.
Canada Cup gold made my moustache grow bigger.
Alright boys, we know what we got to do out there.
Get out there and work hard for each other.
Well look who came down from his ivory tower.
To what do we owe the pleasure?
- Hey, Jim. - Inge.
Good to see you, son.
You're going to St. Louis in two hours.
You've been traded.
First game's tomorrow night.
It's not what I wanted, believe me.
And I'm so sorry.
Good luck to you, kid.
- So I'm not playing now? - No, son.
But you're going to a good club with a good coach.
Take care of yourself, kid.
What the hell are they doing?
Just as well.
What do you mean? We were gonna win the cup together.
Yes but Ballard wants something else.
It's nice that you believe in me, at least.
I appreciate that.
I would never have been able to do this without you.
You know that.
I know that.
Alright boys, time to hit the ice. Let's go.
See you soon, okay?
- I'm so sorry, man. - Thanks.
It is what it is.
Isn't that what you used to say?
Huh? Come here.
Get out there.
Yes, there we go.
No, stay there.
Sch, it'll be fine.
GREETINGS FROM GÄVLE
STIG IS HOME SAFE AND WE HOPE TO VISIT YOU SOON, THE WHOLE FAMILY.
HUGS FROM LENA, STIG AND THE KIDS.
Salming.
Salming, do you mind if I sit down?
Can I buy you a drink?
Can I use your phone?
- Salming. - Hi, Mum. It's Börje.
Hi, Börje! Nice to hear your voice!
Yes, it's been a while.
How are you doing?
We're fine, how are you?
Börje, I can't hear you.
Yeah, I'm good.
Mum, I...
Were you always at home with us, when Dad was in the mines?
Yes, you remember that.
Yeah... but I don't remember him.
Were we alike?
- What? - Were we alike, he and I?
Yeah, you were alike, but Börje, I can't hear you.
I can just hear music, are you at a bar?
Yeah.
Of course it's important to have fun sometimes, not just work,
but I can hear that you're drunk.
Yeah, it might be time to go home.
Mm, I think that sounds good.
Hug the kids and Margitta from me.
I love you, Börje.
What did you say?
I love you, Börje.
I love you too, Mum.
Bye.
Howie.
What are you doing here, man?
I'm out, Börje.
- Hey. - Sorry to come over so late.
Jim got traded.
- No. - We're moving.
No.
God.
No.
Sweetie, sit down.
I'm so mad.
Can I do something?
Where are you going?
Minnesota.
- Minnesota? - Yeah.
Oh God, honey.
Subtitles: Lily Ray plint.com