Esa Tikkanen honoured as fourth recipient of the Borje Salming Courage Award in Helsinki

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Esa Tikkanen was honoured Friday at Helsinki City Hall as the fourth recipient of the Borje Salming Courage Award, an annual recognition presented by SAP and administered through the NHL Alumni Association. The league said the ceremony highlighted both Tikkanen’s reputation as a high-impact presence in big moments and his continuing role as a positive figure for hockey players in his home country.

NHL officials tied the award to Salming’s legacy, describing the honour as going to a Europe-born NHL alumnus who has been a positive influence in his community and who best embodies Salming’s courage, bravery and dedication on and off the ice. Tikkanen, 61, is from Helsinki, and the NHL Alumni Association noted that he also represents Finland as an example for future generations of players.

The event included lighthearted elements reflecting Tikkanen’s on-ice style. The league referenced jokes about Tikkanen’s knack for distracting opponents, including a playful video shown during the ceremony. NHL.com also described how Tikkanen’s chirping—described as a mix of Finnish and English nicknamed “Tikkanese”—was featured as part of the celebratory tone.

In remarks during the ceremony, Tikkanen said, “That’s like me. I have lots of fun with the guys. They have fun with me. I think the most important thing is everybody had fun.” The NHL Alumni Association framed his comments as part of a celebration that balanced personality and performance as central themes of his career.

The NHL also cited Tikkanen’s playoff production as one of the reasons he stood out. The league said Tikkanen finished his NHL career with 132 points (72 goals, 60 assists) in 186 Stanley Cup Playoff games, adding that he “always raised his level” at key times, as described by former teammate Jari Kurri.

The NHL Alumni Association placed Tikkanen in a specific line of past winners. The league said the award has previously been presented to Nicklas Lidstrom, Kurri and Mats Sundin, and described Tikkanen as following that group with the same aim of recognizing courage and community impact tied to Salming’s legacy.

The NHL’s announcement also detailed the Salming connection and background. Salming died on Nov. 24, 2022, after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The league said Salming, a native of Kiruna, Sweden, signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 12, 1973, became the first player born and trained in Europe to reach 1,000 NHL games on Jan. 4, 1988, and later became the first European-trained NHL player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, with the Class of 1996.

This year’s award ceremony took place in Helsinki on the off day between games of the 2026 NHL Global Series Finland, featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken. The league said Salming’s oldest children, Anders and Teresa Salming, represented the family during the ceremony and presented Tikkanen with a limited edition Salming 1148 watch.

The NHL specified details of the watch presentation. It said only 1,148 watches were made, all numbered, and it noted that Wayne Gretzky has No. 99. According to the league, the Salmings presented Tikkanen with No. 10, the number he wore for most of his career, and the NHL said Tikkanen was moved by the gift and remembered Salming in connection with his own playing days.

The ceremony included multiple NHL and local dignitaries. NHL.com reported that the event was emceed by NHL Alumni Association executive director Glenn Healy and that attendees included Helsinki mayor Daniel Sazonov and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, along with dozens of NHL alumni from Finland. The league specifically mentioned former Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne among the attending alumni, with Rinne’s Hockey Hall of Fame induction occurring on Monday.

The league described several additional formal moments as part of the program. It said the festivities began with Kurri and former Dallas Stars forward Jere Lehtinen carrying in the Stanley Cup while NHL alumni gathered for a group photo around it. It also outlined Tikkanen’s Stanley Cup wins, noting he captured the Cup with Edmonton in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990 and with the New York Rangers in 1994.

Beyond team accolades, the NHL’s announcement highlighted Tikkanen’s professional career path across multiple franchises. It said Tikkanen was selected by the Oilers in the fourth round (No. 80) of the 1983 NHL Draft, and that he recorded 630 points (244 goals, 386 assists) in 877 regular-season games from 1985-98 with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals.

In recognizing Tikkanen’s ability to affect opponents, the NHL pointed to his temperament and identity on the ice. Daly was cited by the league describing Tikkanen as “The Grate One,” calling him an agitator with a “legendary talent” for getting under opponents’ skin using “Tikkanese,” a rapid blend of Finnish and English.

The league also referenced support from those who played alongside Tikkanen and described his reputation within locker rooms. Healy, a former NHL goalie, was quoted in the NHL’s account saying that when it mattered most Tikkanen showed up at his best, and the league reported that Healy recalled Tikkanen playing through injury during the 1994 Stanley Cup run.

International competition formed another portion of the NHL’s background on the recipient. NHL.com said Tikkanen represented Finland and helped it win bronze medals at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and 2000 IIHF World Championship, and a silver medal at the 1984 IIHF World Junior Championship. The NHL Alumni Association also noted that Tikkanen played for Helsinki teams, including HIFK (1983-85, 1994-95) and Jokerit (1999-2000).

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the NHL said Healy presented Tikkanen with a custom Scottish broadsword engraved with the phrase “Rise and Rise Again Until Lambs Become Lions.” The league also included Healy’s remarks at the presentation: “Lambs never become lions. Never,” adding that Healy told Tikkanen to “be you.”

The NHL’s announcement positioned Tikkanen’s recognition as both a celebration of his NHL contributions and a public acknowledgment of his sustained presence in the Finnish hockey community, linking the award directly to the courage and dedication associated with Borje Salming’s legacy.