Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988, had an immediate impact on the team's performance, ultimately leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, and he is credited with popularizing hockey in California. Wayne Gretzky is regarded as the greatest professional ice hockey player of all time by sportswriters, players, the NHL itself, and the Canadian ice hockey magazine The Hockey News. Walter Gretzky, the father of hockey great Wayne . Football wasn't even Trevor's best sport either - that . [199], On May 5, 2009, the Coyotes' holding company, Dewey Ranch Hockey LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. An extremely rare 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie has sold for $3.75 million in a private transaction, . [183] Also in 2002, Gretzky received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. [118] Following the contest, in a departure from the usual three stars announcement, Gretzky was awarded all three stars. The NHL did not allow the signing of players under age 20, but the WHA had no rules regarding such signings. [249][250] Gretzky is a partner in First Team Sports, a maker of sports equipment and Worldwide Roller Hockey, Inc., an operator of roller hockey rinks. And as a couple we would like to thank our friends and family, what an amazing weekend. Gretzky accomplished the feat in only 39games. ", "Editorial: Gretzky endorsement of Harper a new political reality", "Emile Francis to receive Wayne Gretzky award", "Erie, McDavid Lose OHL Final As Junior Hockey Says Goodbye To An All-Time Great", "Young stars shine during Minor Hockey Week", "Wayne Gretzky rookie card sells for $3.75 million, shatters record for hockey card", Wayne Gretzky, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award: Virtual Museum of Canada Exhibit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wayne_Gretzky&oldid=1141939613, That he's regarded as the best player in the history of the NHL, see, That he's regarded as the greatest by many sportswriters, see, For the records he held at retirement, see, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:34. [112] After the 199697 season, Mark Messier signed a free agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks, ending the brief reunion of Messier and Gretzky after just one season. [91] The arena was sold out, and the attendance of 17,503 was the Oilers' biggest crowd ever to that date. I'd get up in the morning, skate from 7:00 to 8:30, go to school, come home at 3:30, stay on the ice until my mom insisted I come in for dinner, eat in my skates, then go back out until 9:00.[155]. "[218] It was subsequently reported by various outlets that Gretzky had signed with new U.S. NHL rightsholder Turner Sports to become an analyst. Ultimately, it was Racers owner Nelson Skalbania who, on June 12, 1978, signed 17-year-old Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth US$1.75million. "They're loving us not doing well", he said, referring to American hockey fans. Me: "Peel." On November 2, Gretzky, goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll were put on a private plane, not knowing where they would land and what team they would be joining. They all wanted to play like Gretzky. Gretzky clung to life for 21 days, with his family sitting with him, similar to how he fought after numerous other debilitating health complications over the years. Wayne has five children with his wife of over 30 years, actor Janet Jones: 32-year-old Paulina, 30-year-old Ty, 28-year-old Trevor, 20-year-old Tristan, and 18-year . Me: "Away from the guy, not towards him. Gretzky shared a sweet family photo in celebration of Mother's Day on May 9, 2021. [243] In 1992, Gretzky and McNall partnered in an investment to buy a rare Honus Wagner T206 cigarette card for US$451,000, later selling the card. [192], In 2005, rumours began circulating that Gretzky was about to name himself head coach of the Coyotes, but were denied by Gretzky and the team. An ownership dispute involving Research in Motion's Jim Balsillie (with the intention of relocating the team to Hamilton, Ontario) and the NHL itself arose, which eventually ended up in court. It's not God-given, it's Wally-given. [136], Gretzky's size and strength were unimpressivein fact, far below average for the NHLbut he is widely considered the smartest player in the history of the game. Gzowski presented this theory to Gretzky, and he fully agreed. The Kings now boasted of numerous sellouts. "I went periodically," Gretzky said with a laugh back in 2018. On the advice of his agent, Gretzky picked the Oilers, but the move was not that simple. [20], By age 10, Gretzky had scored an astonishing 378goals and 139assists in just oneseason with the Brantford Nadrofsky Steelers. He left behind his five adult children and 13 grandchildren. [28] With the third pick, the Sault Ste. The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. Paulina?s future is secured, no question about it. In response, Gretzky started shooting on goal himselfand with exceptional effectiveness. The reality is: If Wayne Gretzky's son can't hit a curveball as well as the next kid, then Wayne Gretzky's . Fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Denis Potvin compared attempting to hit Gretzky to "wrapping your arms around fog. [64] For the first time in his NHL career, Gretzky was not named captain,[111] although he briefly wore the captain's "C" in 1998 when captain Brian Leetch was injured and out of the line-up. Walter Gretzky had been an outstanding Junior B hockey player. . "[91] After the 198889 season, a life-sized bronze statue of Gretzky was erected outside Northlands Coliseum, holding the Stanley Cup over his head. With a career spanning more than two decades, he holds a handful of the NHL's most notable records. [65] He partially orchestrated the trade after reports surfaced that he was unhappy in Los Angeles. [179] In addition, Gretzky's jersey number 99 was retired league-wide at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, a decision inspired by Major League Baseball's retirement of the number 42 worn by Jackie Robinson. [115], In 1997, prior to his retirement, The Hockey News named a committee of 50hockey experts (former NHL players, past and present writers, broadcasters, coaches and hockey executives) to select and rank the 50greatest players in NHL history. "[19] The sweaters for 10-year-olds were far too large for Gretzky, who coped by tucking the sweater into his pants on the right side. He led the league in goal-scoring five times and assists 16 times. Advertisement. Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina delivered her baby with . "[81], Between 1982 and 1985, the Edmonton Oilers averaged 423 goals a season, when no previous team had scored 400, and Gretzky on his own had averaged 207 points, when no player before had scored more than 152 in one year. Just a Regular Blue Jersey", "Hockey; Rangers Waste Gretzky's Gifts Again", "In Signing Messier, Canucks' Persistence Paid Off", "NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Assists", "Cole: Bobby Orr was The One, not The Great One", "List of 16-year old World Junior Championship players", "Wayne Gretzky never thought he would make this team", "Hasek Stares Down Canada in Shootout, 21", "Finland Stuns Canada, 32, to Win Bronze Medal", "To figure Gretzky's greatness just tally up the numbers", "Duhatschek: In the City of Angels, NHL mends fences with The Great One", "Wayne Gretzky pays respects to Islanders great Mike Bossy, who passed away at 65 - Forever Blueshirts: A site for New York Rangers fanatics", "Edmonton Oilers have had some of the NHL's best enforcers", "Gloves Off: The 10 Top NHL Enforcers of All Time", "Walking in the footsteps of hockey inaction", "Gretzky officially welcomed into Hockey Hall of Fame", "Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game", "Gretzky jersey ceremony turns into L.A. lovefest", "Plus: N.H.L.Phoenix; Gretzky's Role To Be Limited", "Canucks spoil Great One's coaching debut", "Minnesota Wild 1, Phoenix Coyotes 2 Final", "Gretzky returns with five-year extension", "Gretzky moved to tears as Russia beats Canada 20", "Wayne Gretzky, in China, says NHL letting its stars play in Olympics is 'better for everyone', "Canada Roster 2010 Olympic Winter Games", "Anxious moments during cauldron malfunction", "People chase Gretzky through the streets of Vancouver", "Oilers will play Canadiens in outdoor game", "Fans, players bundle up for historic game", "Wayne Gretzky returns to Oilers in executive role", "Wayne Gretzky stepping away from role with Edmonton Oilers", "Bo-ners, Re-gretz and Mike-believe Two-line Head In Forms", "Gotta See It: Wayne Gretzky's very brief 'Simpsons' cameo", "Why won't Wayne Gretzky pick up his Order of Canada? Published Aug 7, 2019. [161] The next year (198182), at 170 poundsstill "a wisp compared to the average NHL player"he set the all-time goal-scoring record, putting 92 pucks in the net. He was adept at dodging checks from opposing players, and consistently anticipated where the puck was going to be and executed the right move at the right time. "From the age of 3 to the age of 12, I could easily be out there for eight to 10 hours a day", Gretzky has said. [131] Expectations were high for the Canadian team, but the team lost to the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. "[271] As a non-resident, Gretzky came under some criticism for this endorsement. He is one of the best ice hockey players of all time. "Janet makes me go to hot yoga," Gretzky reveals. In June 1978, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. 18. [135] The Olympics marked Gretzky's eighth and final international appearance, finishing with four assists in six games. [23] By age 13, he had scored over 1,000goals. Gretzky informed McNall that his prerequisites for a deal to take place were that Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski join him as teammates in Los Angeles. 14/14 Reason For The Trade. He notched 14 points in 10 games, including a two-goal, two-assist effort in Canada's final game against Sweden to earn the bronze. By age 6 he was playing as an all-star in novice hockey . "[170], He received a good deal of cover from burly Oiler enforcers Dave Semenko and Marty McSorley. [177] The Hall of Fame then announced that he would be the last player to do so. [196] He took an indefinite leave of absence on December 17 to be with his ill mother. [57], During the 198182 season, Gretzky surpassed a record that had stood for 35years: 50 goals in 50 games, first set by Maurice "Rocket" Richard during the 194445 NHL season and tied by Mike Bossy during the 198081 NHL season. The Heritage Classic, held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, was the first regular season NHL game to be played outdoors. [238] During his ownership, the team's colours were changed to silver and black, presaging the change in team jersey colours when he played for the Los Angeles Kings. He, almost alone among the Canadians, seemed to take to the larger ice surface as if it offered more opportunity instead of obligation His playing time soared, as he was being sent on not just for power plays but double shifts and even penalty kills. [200] There was uncertainty about Gretzky's role[201] until it was announced on May 31, 2006, that he had agreed to a five-year contract to remain head coach. In addition, Gretzky tallied over 100points in 16 professional seasons, 14 of them consecutive. "[143] In his first two seasons in the NHL, his deft passing skills helped earn him a reputation as an ace playmaker, and so opposing defencemen focused their efforts on foiling his attempts to pass the puck to other scorers. [12] The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen partly because its yard was flat enough to make an ice rink in winter. )", "Review: Wayne Gretzky writes hockey's history in 99", "Gretzky's book tops Canadian sales for 2016", "Wayne Gretzky endorses Harper despite not being allowed to vote", "Awarded Canada's top honour in 2009, Gretzky has yet to pick it up", "Does The Great One know about politics? It was the 16th time in 19 seasons that Gretzky earned at least a share of the league lead in the statistic. Peter Gzowski says that the best of the best athletes in all sports understand the game so well, and in such detail, that they can instantly recognize and capitalize upon emerging patterns of play. [207], Gretzky served as an ambassador to Vancouver's successful bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics,[208] and was named Special Advisor to Canada's men's hockey team at the Games. [186] Gretzky was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. [58] Later that season, Gretzky broke Esposito's record for most goals in a season (76) on February 24, 1982, scoring three to help defeat the Buffalo Sabres 63. However, Gretzky denied that he had any exotic innate abilities. During Gretzky's coaching tenure, the Coyotes did not reach the postseason, and their best finish in the Western Conference standings was 12th. "[270], During the 2015 Canadian federal election campaign, Gretzky endorsed the Conservative Party and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and was featured at a campaign rally praising Harper by calling him "wonderful to the country. After his retirement in 1999, Gretzky was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, making him the most recent player to have the waiting period waived. [159] But that year, Gretzky tied for first place in scoring, and won the Hart Trophy for the league's most valuable player. [9] Gretzky became executive director for the Canadian national men's hockey team during the 2002 Winter Olympics, in which the team won a gold medal. [117] As the season wound down, there was media speculation that Gretzky would retire, but he refused to announce his retirement. The Wayne Gretzky International Award is presented by the United States Hockey Hall of Fame to honour international individuals who have made major contributions to the growth and advancement of hockey in the United States. [188] In May 2000, he agreed to buy a 10% stake in the Phoenix Coyotes in a partnership with majority owner Steve Ellman, taking on the roles of alternate governor, managing partner and head of hockey operations. Then he'd come back and say, "Now, this is how the smart player does it." Marie, a northern Ontario city that inflicts a heavy travelling schedule on its junior team. "[80], In this, Gretzky added his considerable influence as the preeminent NHL star of his day to that of the Soviets, who had also developed a more team-style of play, and had successfully used it against the best NHL teams, beginning in the 1972 Summit Series. [142], He passed and shot with prodigious skill. . Gretzky has called the tournament the best hockey he had played in his life. This arrangement came under increased scrutiny by the mid-1980s, especially following reports that Pocklington had used the contract as collateral to help secure a $31million loan with the Alberta government-owned Alberta Treasury Branches. Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung . Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones has been married since 1988, and their union has produced three sons - Ty Gretzky, Trevor Gretzky, and Tristan Gretzky - and two daughter named Paulina Gretzky, and Emma Gretzky. [198] The Coyotes' record at the end of the 200506 season was 38395, a 16-win improvement over 200304; they were 36365 in games Gretzky coached. After Wayne's birth, the family moved to a house in Varadi Avenue in Brantford. The Gretzky home at 42 Viradi Ave., in Brantford, has become something of a national shrine . [257][258] From 1993 to 2020, Gretzky and a business partner operated the Wayne Gretzky's restaurant near the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. [218] He serves as a studio analyst for NHL broadcasts on TNT and TBS. "[158] His weight was 160 pounds (73kg), compared to the NHL average of 189 pounds (86kg) at that time. Gretzky's first season in Los Angeles saw a marked increase in attendance and fan interest in a city not previously known for following hockey.