Information AboutWayne Gretzky |
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Wayne Douglas Gretzky, , 2006 coaches and fans. Among his many awards and achievements, he is the only player to ever have his playing number, 99, officially retired across the entire National Hockey League . Identified as a hockey prodigy at a young age, Gretzky regularly played at a level far above his peers, eventually becoming a full professional at the age of 17 in the World Hockey Association , leading to a long career in the National Hockey League. He set 40 regular season records (including 9 MVP awards and 10 Scoring Titles ), 15 playoff records, 6 All-Star , and won four Stanley Cup s with the Edmonton Oilers . He was the only player to total over 200 points in a season, accomplishing the feat 4 times; in addition he tallied over 100 points in 15 seasons, 14 of them consecutively. He retired from playing in 1999 , becoming Executive Director for the Canadian National Men's Hockey Team during the 2002 Winter Olympics . He also became part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2000 and following the 2004-05 NHL Lockout became their head coach. EARLY YEARS AND THE WHA Gretzky's grandfather emigrated to , Gretzky was a classic Prodigy . At age 6 he was skating with 10-year-olds. At age 10 he scored 378 Goals and 139 assists in 85 games, and the first story on him was published in the '' Toronto Telegram''. At 14, playing against 20-year-olds, he left Brantford to further his career and signed with his first agent. He played a season in the Ontario Hockey League at the age of 16 with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds . While playing for the Greyhounds, he began wearing the number 99 on his jersey. He had originally wanted to wear number 9 — for his hero Gordie Howe — but it was already being worn by another teammate, Brian Gualazzi. At Coach Muzz MacPherson's suggestion, Gretzky settled on 99. NHL.com, 99 Reasons Why Wayne Gretzky is "The Great One" He became the youngest player to compete in the World Junior Championships , when he participated in Montreal in 1978 at age 16. IMPACT!, The Crucible , December 2002 Despite being the youngest player in the tournament by far, he finished as the tournament's top scorer, was voted to the All-Star team and Best Forward of the tournament. NHL.com, Gretzky's International Career , accessed April 15, 2006 That year ( 1978-79 ) he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA) as an underaged player. The National Hockey League (NHL) does not allow the signing of players under the age of 18, but the WHA had no rules regarding such signings. Racers owner Nelson Skalbania signed the 17-year-old to a personal contract worth between 1.12 and 1.75 million dollars US over 1 to 2 years. Knowing that the WHA was fading, Skalbania felt owning the young star was more valuable than owning a WHA team. Only eight games into the 1978-79 WHA Season , Skalbania needed money. He sold Gretzky to his former partner and then-owner of the WHA's Edmonton Oilers Peter Pocklington . Paying $700,000, Pocklington purchased Gretzky as well as two other Indianapolis players, Goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll , although the announced price was actually $850,000. On Gretzky's 18th birthday, the 26th Of January , 1979 , Pocklington signed him to a 21-year personal services contract (the longest in hockey history) worth $4-5 million US. Gretzky would go on to capture the Lou Kaplan Trophy for rookie of the year, finish third in league scoring (110 points), and help the Oilers to first overall in the league. That would be Gretzky's only season in the WHA, which folded following the Avco World Trophy finals. NHL CAREER After the World Hockey Association folded in 1979, four teams, including the Edmonton Oilers , joined the National Hockey League . Gretzky's success in the WHA carried over into the NHL, despite some critics suggesting he would flounder in what was considered a bigger, tougher, and more talented NHL. Kenneth Shouler, Lord of the Rink , ''Cigar Aficionado'', 1997 Edmonton ]] In his first NHL season, with 137 points, which remains the most points by a first-year player. Since Dionne scored more goals, he was awarded the Art Ross Trophy over Gretzky. Gretzky became the youngest player to score 50 goals but was not eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy , given to the top NHL rookie, because of his previous year of professional experience. The rule was later changed. In his second season, Gretzky won the 's record for assists in a season and Phil Esposito 's record for points in a season. He won his second straight Hart Trophy. During the . He was also named '' Sports Illustrated '' Magazine's 1982 " Sportsman Of The Year ." The following seasons would see Gretzky break his own assists record three more times (125, 135, and 163) and his point record one more time (215).waynegretzky.com, Statistics - Record Book By the time he finished playing in Edmonton, he held or shared 49 NHL records, which in itself was a record. The Edmonton Oilers finished their last WHA season first overall in the regular season. Hockeydb.com, 1978-79 World Hockey Association Standings , accessed February 6, 2006 The same success was not immediate when they joined the NHL, but within 4 seasons, the Oilers were competing for the Stanley Cup . The Oilers were a young, strong team featuring forwards Mark Messier , Glenn Anderson , and Jari Kurri , Defenceman Paul Coffey , Goaltender Grant Fuhr , and Gretzky as its Captain . In 1983 , they made it to the Stanley Cup finals, only to be swept by the three-time defending champion New York Islanders . The following season, the Oilers met the Islanders in the Finals again, this time winning the Stanley Cup, their first of five in seven years. Gretzky was named an officer of the Order Of Canada on June 25, 1984 for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey. Since the Order ceremonies are always held during the hockey season, it took 13 years, seven months and two Governors-General before he could accept the honour. The Oilers, with Gretzky, also won the Cup in 1985 , 1987 , and 1988 . "The Trade" On 's acting career. Terry Jones, Telling it like it is , ''Edmonton Sun'', August 12, 1988 Others believe it was Pocklington who instigated the trade, seeking to benefit personally from the transaction. After "The Trade", Gretzky's personal popularity sank across Canada, but only temporarily. Gretzky's first , the AP named him Male Athlete of the Decade. Gretzky's tenure with the Kings reached its peak when he scored three goals in game seven of the 1993 Western Conference Finals against Toronto , propelling the Kings into the Stanley Cup Finals. After winning the first game of the series, however, the team lost the next four in a row to the Montreal Canadiens . The team began a long slide that continued despite numerous player and coaching moves and failed to even qualify for the playoffs again until 1998 . Long before that, running out of time and looking for a team with which he could win again, Gretzky had been traded from the Kings at his request. A Stopover in St. Louis On February 27 , 1996 he joined the St. Louis Blues in a trade for Patrice Tardif , Roman Vopat , Craig Johnson , and draft picks. While he scored 37 points in 31 games for the team (regular season and playoffs), and they got within one overtime game of the Conference finals, he never clicked with the team or with sniper and good friend Brett Hull on the ice as well as many had expected. On July 21, he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier. Reunion in New York Gretzky ended his professional career with the Rangers. He played his final three seasons there and helped the team reach the conference finals in 1997 . In 1997, prior to his retirement, The Hockey News named a committee of 50 hockey experts (former NHL players, past and present writers, broadcasters, coaches and hockey executives) to select and rank the 50 greatest players in NHL history. The experts voted Gretzky number one, ahead of the once seemingly incomparable Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe. He participated in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan . Expectations were high for the Canadian team, but without the presence of Mario Lemieux (with whom Gretzky did well in the 1987 Canada Cup ) and several other star Canadians due to injury, the team lost to the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. Many attribute Canada's failure to head coach Marc Crawford 's decision to use a defenceman, Ray Bourque , and not Gretzky in the shoot-out against Dominik Hasek . Jim O'Leary, Old dogs exclusion raises questions , ''SLAM! Sports'', February 20, 1998 His last NHL game in Canada was on , sung by John Amirante, was changed from "the land of the free" to "the land of Wayne Gretzky". He scored his final point in this game, assisting on the lone New York goal scored by Brian Leetch . Gretzky was named as the first, second, and third star of both games. At the time of his retirement, Gretzky was the second-to-last WHA player still active in professional hockey, his longtime teammate Mark Messier being the last. SKILLS Gretzky's dominance throughout his career was attributed to the amount of time he practiced (by his own admission at least 4-5 hours a day) and also that he was a natural Prodigy . At 16, Gretzky's skills were already described as "a magic touch," that he was a good shot, moved the puck very well and never quit, playing both ways (adept at playing defence as well as offence) and a player that any team could build their hockey club around. It was said that he "seems to have eyes in the back of his head" and had a knack of "rolling with a check." archives.cbc.ca, Ordinary guy with extraordinary talent , accessed February 9, 2006 By the time of his retirement, Gretzky had become known for setting up behind the net, passing to teammates like Luc Robitaille or Mark Messier or jumping out quickly for a wrap-around goal. No less an expert Bobby Orr said he "thinks so far ahead," while Gretzky himself referred to it as having "...a feeling about where a teammate is going to be, a lot of times, I can turn and pass without looking." Larry Schwartz, Great and Gretzky belong together , ESPN.com Sportscentury Biography POST-RETIREMENT Gretzky was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame on November 22 , 1999 , becoming the tenth player to bypass the three-year waiting period. The NHL then stated that he would be the last player to do so. Gretzky's famous #99 was retired league-wide at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game . Later that year, he became Alternate Governor and Managing Partner of the Phoenix Coyotes NHL team. Rumours began regarding Gretzky becoming the head coach of the team, but were nixed by Gretzky and the rest of the Coyotes' ownership. Sports Desk, PLUS: N.H.L. -- PHOENIX; Gretzky's Role To Be Limited , ''New York Times'', June 3, 2000 Despite previous assurances, in August 2005 Gretzky agreed to become the new coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. This was announced following the conclusion of the 2004-05 NHL Lockout and may have been partly a marketing decision due to the league's financial struggles, though few question Gretzky's overriding motive to win hockey games. In the time leading up to Gretzky's announcement, several prominent free agents signed with Phoenix citing the chance to play for Gretzky, including Brett Hull . Gretzky made his coaching debut on October 5 , 2005 , the opening night of the 2005-06 NHL Season , losing 3-2 to the Vancouver Canucks . His first coaching victory was October 8 , 2005 , beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Gretzky took an indefinite leave of absence as coach on December 17 , 2005 to care for his ill mother in Brantford, Ontario . Unfortunately, his mother would lose her battle to lung cancer two days later, passing away on December 19 , 2005 . Assistant coach Rick Tocchet assumed the position until Gretzky's return on December 28 . Winter Olympics Gretzky was 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 the media at a press conference, frustrated with speculation regarding his team's uninspiring 1-1-1 start. His temper boiled over after Canada's 3-3 draw vs. the Czech Republic, as he launched a tirade against the perceived negative reputation of Team Canada amongst other national squads, and called rumours of dissent in the dressing room the result of "American propaganda." "They're loving us not doing well," he said, referring to American hockey fans. American fans online began calling Gretzky a "crybaby"; defenders said he was merely borrowing a page from former coach Glen Sather to take the pressure off his players. Canada beat the U.S. to win the gold medal 50 years to the day after the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys won the nation's last gold medal in ice hockey. While forming the ice, a Canadian Loonie was used to mark centre ice. This information was leaked to both teams and it became a good luck charm. The coin is now at the Hockey Hall Of Fame ; a specially-minted loonie was placed at centre ice for the finals of the 2004 World Cup Of Hockey . In retrospect, Gretzky's outbursts against the media turned out to be a galvanizing force for the Canadian team in the quest for the gold; they can be compared to Phil Esposito 's legendary rant against Canadian fans during the 1972 Summit Series . Gretzky again acted as Executive Director of Canada's men's hockey team at the . He was asked to manage Canada's team at the 2005 Ice Hockey World Championships , but declined due to his mother's poor health. Even though he wasn't officially a member of the management staff, he was consulted regularly about decisions, aiding in Canada's silver medal win at the 2005 Worlds. The Heritage Classic In 2003 , Gretzky took to the ice one last time to help celebrate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary as an NHL team. The Heritage Classic was the first NHL game to be played outdoors, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Preceding the NHL game was an exhibition game that reunited Gretzky and many of his retired Oiler teammates against a group of retired Montreal Canadiens players in front of an ice hockey record 57,167 fans and millions more on TV. Kara Yorio, On frozen pond , ''The Sporting News'', December 1, 2003 The game was subsequently released on DVD. OFF THE ICE , during the 2001 IAAF World Championships In Athletics .]] Gretzky met American actress , Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma. While in Edmonton, he endorsed everything from soft drinks and blue jeans to his own wallpaper, pillow cases, breakfast cereal, chocolate bars, and a (in Canada only), Coca-Cola , Esso , McDonald's , Campbell's Soup , Primestar TV, Upper Deck , Nike , Ultra Wheels, Hallmark Cards , Zurich Insurance, Tylenol and Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce . He and his son Ty did commercials for the Sharp Viewcam. He hosted '', 2004, and 2006. He posed for the cover of '' Cigar Aficionado '' Magazine with Jones. In 1998, he launched a line of fashion menswear, Sylvi Capelaci, Wayne's new world , ''Toronto Sun'', September 22, 1998 and signed a licensing agreement with a phone card company. He owns a restaurant, Hespeler sports equipment, and co-owns a chain of roller-hockey rinks. After his retirement, he became the spokesman for Power Automotive Group of Southern California, and Tylenol Arthritis Formula. Johnson and Johnson press release , December 1, 1999 Forbes estimates that Gretzky earned $93.8 million from hockey and endorsements from 1990-98. In , is now known more popularly as the "Gretzky helmet", even though it was a popular model worn by many NHL players in its time. These distinctive and long-discontinued helmets are today a collectors' item among hockey players and fans. Gambling controversy On , 2006 that Gretzky would not be charged with any crime, nor would it be likely that his wife would be charged. Angela Della Santi and Beth DeFalco, Gretzky, wife won't be charged criminally, lawyers say , Associated Press Newswire CAREER STATISTICS NHL records ''For more information and a list of Gretzky's official and unofficial records, see Wayne Gretzky's Records .'' trophy]] Wayne Gretzky held or shared 61 NHL records upon his retirement on the 18th of April, 1999. He had 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and 6 all-star records. Some of the more impressive regular season records include most goals in a season (92), most assists in a season (163), and most points in a season (215). He also holds the record for the fastest 50 Goals In 50 Games or less, which he did in only 39 games and the most goals in 50 games (61, which he did twice). In 1982-83, he had a 51 game point scoring streak that has been compared to Joe DiMaggio 's streak in baseball. During Gretzky's point-scoring streak, he had 61 goals and 92 assists for 153 points. He had dominated the playoffs like he had dominated the regular season. His 47 points in 1985 and his 31 assists in 1988 are still records for a playoff year. He is the career playoff leader in goals (122), assists (260), points (382), Hat Trick s (10), and game winning goals (24). Given that Gretzky was by far the highest scorer of the highest scoring period in the game's history, these playoff numbers appear to be untouchable. His career regular season stats are equally as impressive. He has the record for most career regular season goals (894), assists (1,963), points (2,857), and Hat Trick s (50). The next closest player in total points for the regular season is Mark Messier at 1,887. Gretzky's point total including regular season and playoffs stands at an imposing 3,239. Awards He won nine Hart Trophies , the NHL's most valuable player award, and eight of these were awarded in consecutive years from 1980-1987. Gretzky holds the record for most MVP awards of any player in North American professional sports.
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