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.
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.”
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
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.