Wayne Douglas Gretzky (Born January 26, 1961) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Often known simply as "The Great One," Gretzky is considered by many to be the best hockey player of all time.
Gretzky holds or shares 61 National Hockey League records, including most goals, most assists, and most points in a season and in a career. He won 9 Most Valuable Player awards and 10 scoring titles. On his retirement in 1999, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and his jersey number, 99, was retired by all NHL teams.
Early Years
Gretzky was a classic prodigy. At 6, he was skating with 10 year-olds. At 10, he scored 378 goals in 85 games. At 14, playing against 20 year-olds, he left his hometown in order to both further his career and escape the jealousy his on-ice achievements often created. His parents appointed a couple they had never met to be the boy's legal guardians, and he signed with his first agent.
He played one year in the Ontario Hockey League at the age of 16, with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. There he began wearing number 99 on his jersey, since his idol Gordie Howe's number 9 was already taken on the new team. The next year, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association. Eight games into the season, his contract was bought by Peter Pocklington, owner of the Edmonton Oilers; the Racers folded a few weeks later.
NHL Career
After the 1978-79 season, four WHA teams, including the Oilers, joined the National Hockey League. In his first NHL season, 1979-80, Gretzky was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the League's Most Valuable Player (for the first of eight consecutive years) and tied for the scoring lead with Marcel Dionne with 137 points. (Dionne earned the Art Ross Memorial Trophy as to the League's leading scorer because he had more goals.) Gretzky was not eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the top NHL rookie, because of his previous year of professional experience.
In his second season, Gretzky set a record for most points a season, with 164. He won the Ross Trophy (for the first of seven consecutive years) and his second straight Hart Trophy. The Oilers had a young, strong team: Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, and Grant Fuhr in goal. In 1983, they made it to the Stanley Cup finals, only to be swept by the New York Islanders. The Oilers faced the Islanders in the finals again the next year, this time winning their first Cup. It would be the first of four Stanley Cup victories in five years.
Athlete of the Decade
In 1982, Gretzky became the first hockey player and Canadian to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. He was also named Sports Illustrated Magazine's 1982 "Sportsman of the Year." In 1990, the AP named him Male Athlete of the Decade.
The "Royal Wedding"
He met American actress Janet Jones in 1984 when he was a judge on the show "Dance Fever" and she was one of its dancers, but they didn't begin dating until 1987. Their July 17, 1988 nuptials at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton was dubbed "The Royal Wedding" and broadcast live throughout Canada. "Guards" from the Fire Department stood on the church steps. The event reportedly cost Gretzky over $1,000,000; Janet's dress alone cost $40,000. They have 5 children: Paulina (born that December), Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma.
"The Trade"
In a move that many say forever changed the dynamics of the NHL, Gretzky was traded with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski by the Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million cash and the Kings' three first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993 on August 9, 1988. "The Trade," as it is sometimes known, so upset Canadians that one lawmaker demanded the government block it. Pocklington was burned in effigy, and Janet was branded hockey's Yoko Ono.
Though he led the Kings to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993, he was accused by some of "playing General Manager": he replaced long-time King Dave Taylor as captain in 1989; coaches Robbie Ftorek and Barry Melrose were fired and teammates Bernie Nicholls and Luc Robitaille were traded when they fell out of favor; and ex-Oilers Kurri, Coffey, and Fuhr joined the team. Despite these moves, the Kings continued on a downward spiral. On February 27, 1996, the new owners, with whom Gretzky reportedly did not get along, traded him at his request to the Saint Louis Blues for Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson, and draft picks. He played just 18 games for them, clashing with bombastic coach Mike Keenan. On July 21, he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, re-joining Messier.
Records and Awards
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 22, 1999, bypassing the 3-year waiting period. In his honour, his uniform number, 99, was retired by the NHL. He "wrote" a daily "journal" syndicated throughout Canada's newspapers detailing his thoughts and feelings about his induction into the Hall as the day neared.
Gretzky holds or shares more than 61 NHL records; 40 in the regular season, 15 for play-off games, and six for All-Star games. He holds single-season records for goals (92, set in 1981-82), assists (163, set in 1985-86) and points (215, set in 1985-86). He also holds the career records for goals (894), assists (1963) and points (2857).
He won many trophies: 9 Hart Trophies (including 8 in a row from 1980-1987 inclusive), 10 Art Ross Trophies (7 in a row from 1981-1987), 5 Lady Byng Trophies for "best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability," 2 Conn Smythe Trophies as the playoffs' Most Valuable Player, and 5 Lester B. Pearson Awards as the outstanding player in the regular season (judged by members of the NHL Players' Association). He was the captain of four Stanley Cup winning teams.
He has been inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
While in Edmonton, he endorsed many different products, from soft drinks and blue jeans to his own wallpaper, pillow cases, breakfast cereal, and a Mattel "Great Gretzky" doll. After his trade to the Kings, he pitched Thrifty Car Rental, Peak Antifreeze, Coca-Cola, and did commercials for the Sharp Viewcam with his son Ty. In 1998, he launched a line of fashion menswear carried by Canadian department store chain The Bay. After his retirement, he became the spokesperson for Bud Light beer, Power Automotive Group of Southern California, and Tylenol Arthritis Formula. Forbes Magazine estimated that from 1990 - 1998, Gretzky earned $93.8 million from hockey and endorsements.
In 2000, he became a Managing Partner of the Phoenix Coyotes NHL team.
2002 Canadian Olympic Team
Gretzky served as the Executive Director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. On February 18, he lashed out at a press conference, ranting against the American media, European hockey officials, and just about anyone who opposed the Canadian team. Some said he was borrowing a page from his former coach Glen Sather and taking the pressure off the players. Canada beat the U.S. to win the gold medal 50 years to the day the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys won the nation's last gold.
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | Playoffs GP | Playoffs G | Playoffs A | Playoffs Pts | Playoffs PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-77 | Peterborough Petes | OHA | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-78 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHA | 64 | 70 | 112 | 182 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978-79 | Indianapolis Racers | WHA | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978-79 | Edmonton Oilers | WHA | 72 | 43 | 61 | 104 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 2 |
| 1979-80 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 79 | 51 | 86 | 137 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980-81 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 55 | 109 | 164 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 4 |
| 1981-82 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 92 | 120 | 212 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 |
| 1982-83 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 71 | 125 | 196 | 59 | 16 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 4 |
| 1983-84 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 74 | 87 | 118 | 205 | 39 | 19 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 12 |
| 1984-85 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 73 | 135 | 208 | 52 | 18 | 17 | 30 | 47 | 4 |
| 1985-86 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 52 | 163 | 215 | 46 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 2 |
| 1986-87 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 79 | 62 | 121 | 183 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 29 | 34 | 6 |
| 1987-88 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 64 | 40 | 109 | 149 | 24 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 43 | 16 |
| 1988-89 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 78 | 54 | 114 | 168 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 0 |
| 1989-90 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 73 | 40 | 102 | 142 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| 1990-91 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 78 | 41 | 122 | 163 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 2 |
| 1991-92 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 74 | 31 | 90 | 121 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| 1992-93 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 45 | 16 | 49 | 65 | 6 | 24 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 4 |
| 1993-94 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 81 | 38 | 92 | 130 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1994-95 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 48 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 62 | 15 | 66 | 81 | 32 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 18 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996-97 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 25 | 72 | 97 | 28 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 2 |
| 1997-98 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 23 | 67 | 90 | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1998-99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 70 | 9 | 53 | 62 | 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Quotations
- Skate "to where the puck is going, not where it's been." -- From his father, Walter (Gretzky & Reilly, 1990, p. 88.)
- "100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
- "Most people marry their mother. I married my father." -- 1990 Los Angeles Times interview
References
- Wayne Gretzky with Rick Reilly (1990). Gretzky: An Autobiography. An Edward Burlingame Book. ISBN 0060163399