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[211], Although Gretzky had previously stated he would not participate in any "old-timers exhibition games",[212] on November 22, 2003, he took to the ice to help celebrate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary as an NHL team. His mother was of English, and some Cornish and Irish, descent. Football wasn't even Trevor's best sport either - that . [168] This was how Gretzky avoided serious injuries despite being undersized and entering the NHL during its "rough and tumble time"; Gretzky noted that his contemporary Mike Bossy took a beating to score goals, which consequently led him to retire because his back took a beating. Gretzky was also forced to endure public criticism from his head coach for the first time in his career. Gretzky was named to the club on November 29, 1997. [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. Despite frigid temperatures, the crowd numbered 57,167, with an additional several million watching the game on television. Wayne Gretzky as an NHL owner and coach. [280] The Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship and performance, was presented to Gretzky five times between 1980 and 1999. [147] "There is an unhurried grace to everything Gretzky does on the ice. The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen . [80], "He was, I think, the first Canadian forward to play a true team game", said hockey writer and former NHL goaltender Ken Dryden. According to Walter, Wayne was being "shopped" to Los Angeles, Detroit, and Vancouver, and Pocklington needed money as his other business ventures were not doing well. Hall of Fame defenceman Bobby Orr said of Gretzky, "He passes better than anybody I've ever seen. "That's a hundred percent right. [5] His first coach, Dick Martin, remarked that he handled the puck better than the 10-year-olds. 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. Howe traveled with the Gretzky family to show support. [222] In December 2016, Gretzky appeared briefly in a cameo on a Christmas episode of The Simpsons as a winter character. lives with his family in . [247] Forbes estimates that Gretzky made US$93.8million from 1990 to 1998. For other people with the same name and other uses, see, Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:34, Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, List of career achievements by Wayne Gretzky, National Hockey League Players' Association, "Wayne Gretzky finally explains meaning behind 'The Great One' nickname", "University of Alberta: Honorary Degree Recipients (20002007)", "NHL Records Held or Shared by Wayne Gretzky", "Wayne Gretzky: 100 Greatest NHL Players", "Gretzky trade remembered for 'seismic impact', "Top Ten Greatest Canadians Wayne Gretzky", "Tournoi pee-wee de Qubec: plusieurs lgendes ont jou Qubec", "Gretzky, only 16, carries a 'Gold-Orr' label", "Mutual Admiration: Howe Backs Gretzky's Attack on His Scoring Record", "99 Reasons Why Wayne Gretzky is 'The Great One', "Gretzky, scoring three goals, sets season record at 79", "A look at Canadian Press Newsmakers of the Year", "Kings Pay King's Ransom for Hockey Great Gretzky", "Governor General announces 60 new appointments to the Order of Canada", "NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Goals", "Can't get next to you, babe: Tony La Russa was part of the", "The 10 best player-inspired NHL rules changes", "Revolutionary Moments in Sports: The Gretzky Rule", "20 Years Ago: Gretzky Deal Shocked the Hockey World", "25-for-25: Gretzky records that will live on", "Gretzky Helped Put Hockey On Map In U.S.", "Rangers' Surprising Run Comes to a Finish", "No C and No A for Gretzky. The Wayne Gretzky family is very close.. Wayne Gretzky was born January 26, 1961.. His dad, Walter Gretzky, was born October 8, 1938. [279] In addition, he earned the Lester B. Pearson Award (now Ted Lindsay Award) on five occasions; the award is given to the NHL's "most outstanding player", as determined by National Hockey League Players' Association members. Walter Gretzky was the son of immigrants - a Polish mother and Russian father - who started a vegetable farm in 1932 in Canning, Ont., just outside Brantford, on the Nith River, where Wayne . Gretzky has made several TV appearances, including as a Dance Fever celebrity judge, and acted in a dramatic role alongside Victor Newman in The Young and the Restless in 1981. [233] Trevor is a former minor league baseball player. [219] In 1984, he travelled to the Soviet Union to film a television program on Russian goaltender Vladislav Tretiak. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times, and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.[8]. Gretzky became known for setting up behind his opponent's net, an area that was nicknamed "Gretzky's office". [177] The Hall of Fame then announced that he would be the last player to do so. I got it from my Dad. Despite being underdogs against the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division semifinals, Gretzky led the Kings to a shocking upset of his old squad, spearheading the Kings' return from a 31 series deficit to win the series 43. In the year he scored his record 92 goals, 22 of them went in the net during the first period, 30 in the secondand 40 in the third. 99. [113] The 1997 playoff run was Gretzky's last as a player, and Rangers did not return to the playoffs until 2006, well after Gretzky retired. Walter Gretzky, died on Thursday at the age of 82. Walter Gretzky, the father of hockey great Wayne . With the score tied 55 and 1:26 minutes to go in regulation, Lemieux one-timed a pass from Gretzky on a 3-on-1 with defenceman Larry Murphy. [171][172][173] The latter was traded with Gretzky in 1988 to the Los Angeles Kings, where he played the same policeman role for several more years. [251][252] The video game brand EA Sports included Gretzky in its 2010 title NHL Slapshot,[253] and he had previously been an endorser for the 989 Sports games Gretzky NHL 2005 and Gretzky NHL 2006. That's what made him such a phenomenal player. Gretzky explains his style of play further: People think that to be a good player you have to pick the puck up, deke around ninety-three guys and take this ungodly slap shot. The Canadians had trouble with the big ice. [240], In 1991, McNall purchased the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) with Gretzky and John Candy as minority owners. ", "Wayne Gretzky | They Live Among Us! The athlete gene is certainly present in the Gretzky family. [5][11] The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. The NHL also lowered its minimum age, ensuring players such as Gretzky would not need to return to the junior level, albeit with the caveat that such previously underaged players were supposed to be placed into the 1979 NHL Entry Draft pool. 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 . He said that many of his advantages were a result of his father's brilliant coaching. "[76][78] The rule was reversed for the 199293 season. [39] The format was a three-game series between the WHA All-Stars and Dynamo Moscow played at Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum. [63], The following seasons saw Gretzky break his own assists record three more times (125 in 198283, 135 in 198485 and 163 in 198586); he also bettered that mark (120assists) in 198687 with 121 and 199091 with 122, and his point record one more time (215, in 198586). He was 82. In addition, Gretzky tallied over 100points in 16 professional seasons, 14 of them consecutive. Nobody would ever say a doctor had learned his profession by instinct; yet in my own way I've put in almost as much time studying hockey as a medical student puts in studying medicine. [144], He also had strong general athletic skills. [45] Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year,[35] and helped the Oilers to first place in the league.[46]. [23] By age 13, he had scored over 1,000goals. The Edmonton alumni won the Megastars game 20,[215] while Montreal went on to win the regular season game held later that day, 43. The men including Wayne, two of his sons Trevor and Ty, and his grandchildren Tatum and River, who belong to Paulina stood . [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. [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. In October 2016, he returned to the Oilers as a minority partner and vice-chairman of their parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group. [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. Given the pandemic and other life changes, I realize I will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization. [107], However, the chemistry everyone expected with winger Brett Hull never developed. On February 18, he lashed out at the media at a press conference, frustrated with media and fan comments regarding his team's uninspiring 111 start. ", "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. [142], He passed and shot with prodigious skill. (Nathan Denette/AP) Article. [221] A fictional crime-fighting version of him served as one of the main characters in the cartoon ProStars in 1991. "Our family is thrilled to become the new guardians of this world-class hobby treasure." Using this approach, the Oilers, led by Gretzky, became the highest-scoring team in NHL history. "[271] As a non-resident, Gretzky came under some criticism for this endorsement. "It's as if my father raised me until age 17, then turned me over to Slats and said, 'You take him from here.'"[83]. Dustin Johnson's wife, Paulina Gretzky, has been a staple at his golf events, on the PGA Tour and now LIV Golf along with their two children, Tatum Gretzky Johnson and River Jones Johnson. [101] After the financially troubled McNall was forced to sell the Kings in 1994, Gretzky's relationship with the Kings' new owners grew strained. Over 20 seasons in the NHL, he held 61 records, including six all-star records. The Gretzkys are basically the royal family in Canada and they will be adding a new member to their family very soon. Wayne Gretzky said in a social media post Thursday night that his father battled Parkinson's . Tatum . The focus of the game prior to Gretzky's arrival, he said, especially among the Canadian teams, was on the player with the puckin getting the puck to a star player who would make the big play. [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. Lemieux scored to win the tournament for Canada; the play is widely regarded as one of the most memorable plays in Canadian international competition. Speaking of Paulina, she and golf player Dustin Johnson have been in a relationship since 2011. Paulina and golfer Dustin Johnson announced their engagement on August 18, 2013. In response, Gretzky started shooting on goal himselfand with exceptional effectiveness. My Dad was very smart."[152]. [50], In his first NHL season, 197980, Gretzky was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player (the first of eight in a row) and tied for the scoring lead with Marcel Dionne with 137points. [27], Despite his offensive statisticsscoring 132 points in 60 games in Junior B[27]two teams bypassed him in the 1977 Ontario Major Junior Hockey League draft of 16-year-olds. The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen partly because its yard was flat . Paulina Gretzky, Wayne's Daughter, announced on Instagram that her and PGA Tour golfer Dustin Johnson are expecting their second child. [56] This victory propelled the Kings into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, where they faced the Montreal Canadiens. [60] That year, Gretzky became the first hockey player and first Canadian to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. [229] Broadcast live throughout Canada from Edmonton's St. Joseph's Basilica, members of the Fire Department acted as ceremonial guards. [196] He took an indefinite leave of absence on December 17 to be with his ill mother. So I had a long head start on everyone else. [205], Gretzky again acted as executive director of Canada's men's hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, though not with the success of 2002; the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals and failed to win a medal. . [189] The Coyotes were in the process of being sold and Ellman convinced Gretzky to come on board, averting a potential move to Portland, Oregon. His mom, Phyllis Gretzky, was born October 14, 1941 and passed away on December 19, 2005. [213] It was preceded by the Mega Stars game, which featured Gretzky and many of his Oiler Dynasty teammates against a group of retired Montreal Canadiens players (whose likes included Claude Lemieux, Guy Lafleur and others). It's like Larry Bird. Analyzing Gretzky's hockey skills, he says, "What we take to be creative genius is in fact a reaction to a situation that he has stored in his brain as deeply and firmly as his own phone number." 10 Canadians Who Became Americans", "Paulina Gretzky Engaged To PGA Star Dustin Johnson", "The Front Row With Bruce Bourquin: June 13, 2014", "Al Gretzky enters London West by-election race", "London West breaks Liberal stronghold as NDP win projected", "Walter Gretzky, father of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, dies at 82", "Rocket Men: The far-out (but true) story of the '91 Argos", "Toronto Argonauts sold for $4.7 million", "Gretzky, Candy to get names etched on Grey Cup", "Honus Wagner card sells for record $2.8M", "Gretzky A Great One Among Thoroughbred Owners, Too", "Gretzky will work closer with Hespeler Hockey", "Gretzky Ranks Among Elite In Arena of Endorsements", "Hockey Great Wayne Gretzky and First Team Sports Partner in Hockey Equipment Company", "Wayne Gretzky Takes the Ice With 989 Sports for Signature Hockey Franchise", "Wayne Gretzky's Toronto Celebrates 25 Years of Greatness", "Meet the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors", "55 shades of Great: Random facts about Wayne Gretzky on his 55th birthday", "Last call at Wayne Gretzky's sports bar in Toronto after 27 years", "Wayne Gretzky to open restaurant at Edmonton International Airport", "Nick Lees: Don Metz in spotlight as Wayne Gretzky opens new restaurant in Rogers Place", "Release: Studio 99 opens in Rogers Place October 18", "Gretzky: An Autobiography By Wayne Gretzky with Rick Reilly (HarperCollins: $19.95; 258 pp. He earned Rookie of the Year honours in the Metro Junior B Hockey League in 197576, with 60points in 28games. In front of the net, eyeball to eyeball with the goaltender he will hold the puck one extra instant, upsetting the anticipated rhythm of the game, extending the moment. [17], The team Gretzky played on at age six was otherwise composed of 10-year-olds. [24] His play attracted considerable negative attention from other players' parents, including those of his teammates, and he was often booed. Seven months later, Gretzky joined Team Canada for the 1982 World Championships in Finland. It's anticipation. Who says anticipation can't be taught? Bassett saw Gretzky as the most promising young prospect. Former NHL star Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet have listed their Colonial-style mansion for $22.9 million. While they were using all this energy trying to rattle his teeth, he was just skating away, circling, analyzing things."[140]. 18. The WHA had long sought to arrange some sort of merger with the NHL, but were constantly rebuffed by a group of hardline owners in the older league. With a private gym in their home, it's easy for the fitness-focused couple to stay active. By the final round it was Wayne Gretzky who assumed the leadership both on and off the ice. [226] According to Gretzky, Jones does not recall his being on the show. Now he was in Indy, taking some classes at Broad Ripple High School, living with a family in the Brookshire development in Carmel. He died March 4. [146], Veteran Canadian journalist Peter Gzowski wrote that Gretzky seemed to be able to slow down time. [15] Drills included skating around Javex bleach bottles and tin cans, and flipping pucks over scattered hockey sticks to be able to pick up the puck again in full flight. 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. The Gretzky Family (Instagram) Similarly, Trevor Douglas was born the third child and second son on 1992 September 14, 14. Long prior to either him or Gretzky joining the Blues, Mike Keenan had refused to moderate his coaching style even while coaching Gretzky while with Team Canada during international tournaments. [3] Gretzky is the leading goal scorer, assist producer and point scorer in NHL history,[4] and has more assists in his career than any other player scored total points. "[141] Gretzky's ability to improvise came into the spotlight at the 1998 Olympics in Japan. Walter Gretzky, the ultimate Canadian hockey dad who taught and nurtured the Great One, has died. Wayne Gretzky, in full Wayne Douglas Gretzky, byname the Great One, (born January 26, 1961, Brantford, Ontario, Canada), Canadian ice hockey player who was considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). TORONTO (AP) Walter Gretzky, the father of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, has died. When asked how he managed, at age ten, to score 378 goals in a single season, Gretzky explained, See, kids usually don't start playing hockey until they're six or seven. [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. Sep 10, 2021. [194] Gretzky made his coaching debut on October 5,[195] and won his first game, on October 8 against the Minnesota Wild. [202] The Coyotes' performance declined in 200607, as the team ended the season 15th in their conference. A family portrait of Wayne and Janet with kids Trevor, Paulina and Ty in 1997. . "A lot of times, I can turn and pass without even looking."[5]. Marie Greyhounds selected Gretzky, even though Walter Gretzky had told the team Wayne would not move to Sault Ste. Based on the numbers that today's superstars put . "If a guy ran him, Wayne would embarrass that guy", said former Oiler Lee Fogolin. At coach Muzz MacPherson's suggestion, Gretzky settled on 99.[30]. While Skalbania knew it was unlikely the Racers would be one of these teams (in part because the WHA insisted that all of its surviving Canadian teams be included), he still hoped to keep the Racers alive long enough to collect compensation from the surviving teams when the WHA dissolved, as well as any funds earned from selling the young star. [104], On February 27, 1996, Gretzky joined the St. Louis Blues in a trade for Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson and two draft picks (Peter Hogan and Matt Zultek). Gretzky accomplished the feat in only 39games. Walter worked at Bell Telephone Canada and owned an apartment in Brantford, where the family lived. After the details of the trade were finalized by the two owners, one final condition had to be met: Gretzky had to call Pocklington and request a trade. Five years later, the tournament was revived and renamed the World Cup in 1996. "He was improvising all the time. May 26, 2021 at 6:25 p.m. "The Great One" is headed from the front office to a cable television studio. Wayne and Walter Gretzky take Ron MacLean on a tour of the legendary family home in Brantford, Ontario. "The Soviets and Gretzky changed the NHL game", says Dryden. Slowly, as game after game went by and the concern continued to rise, Wayne Gretzky began climbing through the line-up. [185] On May 10, 2010, he was awarded The Ambassador Award of Excellence by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission. Mark Messier, who attended the game along with other representatives of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty, was the last.[123]. [239] Gretzky eventually sold the team in 1992 for C$550,000. [227] Gretzky proposed in January 1988,[228] and they were married on July 16, 1988, in a lavish ceremony the Canadian press dubbed "The Royal Wedding". [102] During the 199495 NHL lock-out, Gretzky and some friends (including Mark Messier, Marty McSorley, Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman) formed the Ninety Nine All Stars Tour and played eight exhibition games in various countries. Marie, a northern Ontario city that inflicts a heavy travelling schedule on its junior team. [62] The Canadian Press also named Gretzky Newsmaker of the Year in 1982. "Wayne Gretzky was one of the most accurate scorers in NHL history", said one biography. Wayne Gretzky, a former Canadian ice hockey player known as "The Great One," has a daughter named Emma. Chicago coach Mike Keenan said it best: "There's a spot on the ice that's no-man's land, and all the good goal scorers find it." "[91] After the 198889 season, a life-sized bronze statue of Gretzky was erected outside Northlands Coliseum, holding the Stanley Cup over his head. Me: "Peel." Love you all, 33 years Happy Anniversary." Wayne Gretzky and actress Janet Jones attend the "The . The Oilers went on to win their fifth Cup (and first without Gretzky). 11. [14], Walter taught Wayne, Keith, Brent, Glen and their friends hockey on a rink he made in the back yard of the family home, nicknamed the "Wally Coliseum". [269], In 2003, while not criticizing Canada for declining to participate in the invasion of Iraq, Gretzky praised President of the United States, George W. Bush, and his handling of the conflict, saying: "the President of the United States is a great leader, I happen to think he's a wonderful man and if he believes what he's doing is right, I back him 100 per cent. That includes Wayne Gretzky's oldest daughter, Paulina Gretzky, who has been a singer, model, and actor, and is also known for her long-time relationship with golfer Dustin Johnson. Trevor is the most successful sibling . [175], Gretzky was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 22, 1999, becoming the tenth player to bypass the three-year waiting period. He was the son of Phyllis Hockin and Walter Gretzky. The NHL did not allow the signing of players under age 20, but the WHA had no rules regarding such signings. [48][49], Gretzky's success in the WHA carried over into the NHL, despite some critics suggesting he would struggle in what was considered the bigger, tougher and more talented league. [71] Five times between 198182 and 198687, Gretzky led the NHL in goals scored. 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. On the advice of his agent, Gretzky picked the Oilers, but the move was not that simple. [91] After the game, Gretzky took the opportunity to confirm his patriotism: "I'm still proud to be a Canadian. To stop them without it, that was interference. Gretzky would later remark that the Soviet National Team's practice drills, which impressed Canada in 1972, had nothing new to offer him: "I'd been doing these drills since I was three. By age two, Wayne was trying to score goals against Mary using a souvenir stick. Wayne hails from a large family of five children. Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky) Instagram photo. [126] His 17 points remain the most scored by a 16-year-old in the World Junior Championships. In his active years, he played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1979 to 1999 for 4 teams. By 1978, the World Hockey Association, which had been in competition with the established NHL since 1972, was clearly struggling. 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. Dryden wrote in his book The Game, "In the past, defenders and teams had learned to devise strategies to stop opponents with the puck. On Family, Hockey and Healing." "Wayne says the same thing." Walter Gretzky AP Walter's celebrity status increased after making a remarkable recovery from a stroke suffered in 1991. [199], Gretzky was executive director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Paulina Gretzky is starring in OVO's latest campaign alongside her father, Wayne Gretzky, and the rest of their family.. On Thursday, OVO, the Canadian fashion label established by hip-hop . [40] The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers, who put Gretzky on a line with his boyhood idol Gordie Howe and Howe's son, Mark. [210] Due to BC Place being an indoor stadium, and Olympic protocols stating that the lighting of the cauldron should be visible to the public, Gretzky was then escorted out of the stadium to light a second, outdoor cauldron outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, making him the de facto final torchbearer. Me: "Away from the guy, not towards him. "Gretzky" redirects here. On toy store shelves, the Wayne Gretzky doll was a part of the inventory, and in 1983, the government of Canada even issued an official Wayne Gretzky dollar coin. He was 82. "[157], When he entered the league in 1979, critics opined that Gretzky was "too small, too wiry, and too slow to be a force in the [NHL]. With the WHA's long-term survival obviously in doubt, Birmingham Bulls owner John F. Bassett believed the only way to gain meaningful leverage over the NHL was to sign as many young and promising superstars as possible. Gretzky led the tournament for the fourth and final time with 12 points in seven games. In 1977, Wayne Gretzky joined the Soo Greyhounds as the third overall pick of the OHL draft. By age 6 he was playing as an all-star in novice hockey . [285] The Edmonton Minor Hockey Association also has an award named for Gretzky. By the time Gretzky turned six, he was playing hockey alongside the teenagers in his locale. I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. The 205-pound (93kg) Potvin, a three-time winner of the Norris Trophy for best defenceman, added that part of the problem in hitting Gretzky hard was that he was "a tough guy to dislike what was there to hate about Gretzky? The family had five children, and they all played hockey as toddlers. The Oshawa Generals picked Tom McCarthy first, and the Niagara Falls Flyers picked Steve Peters second overall. Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a Canadian former professional hockey player and former head coach from Brantford. [124] He recounted: My last game in New York was my greatest day in hockey Everything you enjoy about the sport of hockey as a kid, driving to practice with mom [Phyllis] and dad [Walter], driving to the game with mom and dad, looking in the stands and seeing your mom and dad and your friends, that all came together in that last game in New York. [34], Gretzky scored his first professional goal against Dave Dryden of the Edmonton Oilers[35] in his fifth game, and his second goal four seconds later. [126] Gretzky did not win his first international competition until the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada defeated Sweden in a best-of-three finals. [7] Gretzky played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers. [214] The WHA completed the playoffs of its final season as planned. "[149] Gretzky said he sensed other players more than he actually saw them. [162] He weighed "about 170 pounds" for the better part of his career. . By the time I was ten, I had eight years on skates instead of four, and a few seasons' worth of ice time against ten-year-olds. "[218] It was subsequently reported by various outlets that Gretzky had signed with new U.S. NHL rightsholder Turner Sports to become an analyst. Gretzky was one of six players voted to the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team. [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. [224][225], While serving as a judge on Dance Fever, Gretzky met actress Janet Jones. [99] However, he performed well in the playoffs, notably when he scored a hat trick in gameseven of the Campbell Conference Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs.