Wayne Douglas Gretzky

Born: January 26, 1961
Place of Birth: Brantford, Ontario

• Wayne Gretzky holds just about every significant scoring record of the National Hockey League.

• His father was a very important factor coaching Gretzky from the age of three on the game's fundamentals.

• When only 10 years old, he was labeled "The Great Gretzky" because of his scoring feats at that age.

• His first professional season was played in the now defunct World Hockey Association.

• In his first NHL season, he tied for the scoring title but over the next seven seasons he won the title outright.

• Playing with the Edmonton Oilers, his first NHL team, the team won four Stanley Cups in five years.

• He had a sixth sense in playmaking setting up scoring chances with remarkable passes.

• Gretzky's individualism on the ice stood out as he could perform moves unlike any previous hockey player.

• Gretzky won the NHL "Most Valuable Player" award an unprecedented nine times.

• Many were openly upset when he was traded from the Oilers to an American team, the Los Angeles Kings.

• The move, however, opened up the TV American market for the game of hockey and player salaries began to increase.

• Gretzky retired in 1999 and his famous "99" number was retired by the league.

• He is credited for his managerial input into Canada winning the 2002 Olympic gold medal.

• Being a role model for youngsters has always been one of Gretzky's major achievements.

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Last Updated: June 13, 2006
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003