Mystery behind photo featuring Leafs legends solved
A photo of a few Toronto Maple Leafs greats, including the late Borje Salming, posted to social media last week has been liked more than 90,000 times and racked up nearly 12,500 shares and counting since then.
But the longer you look at the image, the more questions there are. Why are Darryl Sittler, Tiger Williams, and Lanny McDonald wearing clothes fit for the 70s? What’s with the old cars in the background? Is this photo even real?
Questions like those and others appear frequently within the nearly 4,000 comments that followed the late Friday-night post to the Facebook group Maple Leafs Fans -- alongside countless tributes to Salming, who died on Nov. 24 following a battle with ALS.
“Great picture…but how did all those old cars get in the background?” asked one person. “There has got to be more to this picture…” remarked another. Some users in the comment section even suggested the image was photoshopped.
It turns out the answer is simple.
CTV News Toronto reached out to the production company behind “King 21,” a six-part television series about the Swedish hockey player’s life, which confirmed the photo was authentic.
The production, by Warner Bros Sweden, was shooting on location in Toronto outside of the former Maple Leaf Gardens (now a Loblaws grocery store and Toronto Metropolitan University athletic facility) when the photo was taken.
They said Sittler, Williams, and McDonald were all extras in the series -- which explains their clothing in the photo -- and came out to “support their friend.”
The four teammates played together for the Leafs in the 70s over a number of years.
Borje Salming, Tiger Williams, Darryl Sittler, and Lanny McDonald are seen in this undated image. (Instagram/Jason McCormack)
Jason McCormack, who took the photo and worked on the set, said when he heard about the show, he knew he had to be a part of the production.
“I gotta get on there,” he recalled, speaking to CTV News Toronto in an interview.
McCormack said news about Salming’s ALS diagnosis had been announced before the show started shooting and there were rumours that the Hall of Famer would eventually make his way to set.
Those rumours became a reality in early November when Salming made his appearance alongside members of his family.
“I've worked on all kinds of films. And I, you know, I don't really get starstruck. But to be around Salming, you know, he was one of my favorites growing up.”
McCormack snapped photos with Sittler, Williams, and McDonald before capturing the image of Salming and his teammates that has since gone viral.
“That moment and taking that picture and to be that close and be part of it meant the world to me.”
Jason McCormack poses with Darryl Sittler, Tiger Williams, and Lanny McDonald. (Supplied)
Salming wore number 21, which was retired by the Leafs in 2016. A monument in his honour was added to Legends Row outside Scotiabank Arena in 2015. He is still the highest scoring defenseman in Leafs history.
He played 16 seasons with the team from 1973 to 1989 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.
He was remembered fondly following his passing last week as an athlete who paved the way for other European-trained hockey players to compete in the NHL.
Salming first made the announcement about his ALS diagnosis in August, saying the news had “shaken” him and his family.
The current Leafs roster honoured the Swede, who was widely referred to as “The King,” on Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild by adorning their jerseys with a blue maple leaf and a gold crown with “BÖRJE” in bold yellow writing.
Salming was 71.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.