[271] Earlier in 2015, Gretzky endorsed Patrick Brown during his successful campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. 99 Gretzky's Wine & Whisky,[263] and in 2018 called Studio 99 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. [214] [254][255] Gretzky also made an appearance on the music video for Nickelback's "Rockstar". He left behind his five adult children and 13 grandchildren. [117] As the season wound down, there was media speculation that Gretzky would retire, but he refused to announce his retirement. [184] His hometown of Brantford, Ontario, renamed Park Road North to "Wayne Gretzky Parkway" as well as renaming the North Park Recreation Centre to The Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. That's my whole strategy: Find Open Ice. I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. He made his 2 million dollar fortune with Professional Ice Hockey Player (Retired). [156], Much has been written about Gretzky's highly developed hockey instincts, but he once explained that what appeared to be instinct was, in large part, the effect of his relentless study and practice of the game, in co-operation with his coaches. [244] The pair also owned Thoroughbred race horses; one of them, Saumarez, won France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1990. He died March 4. The Gretzky home at 42 Viradi Ave., in Brantford, has become something of a national shrine . [229] Broadcast live throughout Canada from Edmonton's St. Joseph's Basilica, members of the Fire Department acted as ceremonial guards. [239] Gretzky eventually sold the team in 1992 for C$550,000. [17], In Gretzky's first appearance in Edmonton after the trade, a game nationally televised in Canada, he received a four-minute standing ovation. 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. Fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Denis Potvin compared attempting to hit Gretzky to "wrapping your arms around fog. The investigation revealed the gambling ring had ties to the Bruno-Scarfo crime family and CBS News reported that Gretzky had been caught on a wire tape " discussing how the hockey great's wife . Now he was in Indy, taking some classes at Broad Ripple High School, living with a family in the Brookshire development in Carmel. [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. Him: "Which means" [21] His play attracted media attention beyond his hometown of Brantford, including a profile by John Iaboni in the Toronto Telegram in October 1971. [129] Playing on a line with Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar Mario Lemieux, he recorded a tournament-best 21 points in nine games. Walter Gretzky, CM, OOnt (October 8, 1938 - March 4, 2021) was a Canadian philanthropist who was best known as the father of Canadian ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky.. An avid hockey player as a youth, and a keen analyst of the game, he built a backyard rink for his children, and coached Wayne continually from the age of three, devising creative exercises and drills, and teaching him profound . Sports commentators said that he played like he had "eyes in the back of his head. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and 6 All-Star records. [54] The Calder was instead awarded to Boston Bruins defenceman Ray Bourque. [222] In December 2016, Gretzky appeared briefly in a cameo on a Christmas episode of The Simpsons as a winter character. The 23,000-square foot facility nestled amongst the grapevines is the first combined winery and distillery in Ontario, inviting guests to join in a celebration of Canadian wine, Canadian whisky, and Canadian culture. [159] But that year, Gretzky tied for first place in scoring, and won the Hart Trophy for the league's most valuable player. Gretzky addressed those comments by saying he spoke out to protect the Canadian players, and the tirade was not "staged". He made an immediate impact on the ice, scoring on his first shot on goal in the first regular season game. Despite frigid temperatures, the crowd numbered 57,167, with an additional several million watching the game on television. Me: "To where the puck is going, not where it's been." [281], A number of awards and trophies have been created under his name. [55], In his second season, Gretzky won the Art Ross (the first of seven consecutive) with a then-record 164points, breaking both Bobby Orr's record for assists in a season (102) and Phil Esposito's record for points in a season (152). [20], By age 10, Gretzky had scored an astonishing 378goals and 139assists in just oneseason with the Brantford Nadrofsky Steelers. Seven months later, Gretzky joined Team Canada for the 1982 World Championships in Finland. "A lot of times, I can turn and pass without even looking."[5]. Football wasn't even Trevor's best sport either - that . It's not God-given, it's Wally-given. While they were using all this energy trying to rattle his teeth, he was just skating away, circling, analyzing things."[140]. Gretzky began skating at age two and a half and was first taught hockey by his father. Gretzky's final head coaching record was 14316124. Him: "Which way?" 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. "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]. "[218] It was subsequently reported by various outlets that Gretzky had signed with new U.S. NHL rightsholder Turner Sports to become an analyst. The hardest work he does is getting open. Wayne Gretzky is a famous former professional ice hockey player. [36] However, he played only eight games for Indianapolis. [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". [31] Several WHA teams courted Gretzky, notably the Bulls and the Indianapolis Racers. She was nonchalantly greeted by an already warmed-up Bouchard, who already practiced for about 45 minutes-working on net approaches and volleys. 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. The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card that recently sold for $3.75 million is the same version of the card that sold for $1.29 million this past December. The Gretzky family showed some love for Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open. He was 82. Courtesy Heritage Auctions In 1980, when an exercise physiologist tested the recuperative abilities of all of the Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky scored so high that the tester said he "thought the machine had broken. He is widely known for being one of hockey's greatest players of all time and has broken more than 60 records in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky junior career. [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. "[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. 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. [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. 14/14 Reason For The Trade. [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. Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a renowned Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. The following year, as a 1516-year-old, he had 72points in 32games with the same team, renamed the Seneca Nationals. [14] The farm was where Wayne skated on ice for the first time, aged two years, 10 months. In his post-championship interview, Messier (who had replaced Gretzky as Edmonton's captain following the trade) paid tribute to his former teammate by dedicating the Oilers' Cup win to him. [88], On August 9, 1988, in a move that heralded significant change in the NHL, the Oilers traded Gretzky (along with McSorley and Krushelnyski) to the Kings for Carson, Martin Glinas, $15million in cash, and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989 (later traded to the New Jersey Devils, who used it to select Jason Miller), 1991, (used to select Martin Runsk), and 1993, (used to select Nick Stajduhar). 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. [67] The Oilers were a young, strong team featuring, in addition to Gretzky, future Hall of Famers including forwards Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri; defenceman Paul Coffey; and goaltender Grant Fuhr. After losing the first game of a best-of-three final series against the Soviets, Gretzky propelled Canada with a five-assist performance in the second game, including the game-winning pass to Lemieux in overtime, to extend the tournament. Perched on the crest of a hill with breathtaking 360-degree views of the Santa Monica Mountains and Lake . Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung . 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. [194] Gretzky made his coaching debut on October 5,[195] and won his first game, on October 8 against the Minnesota Wild. Paulina and Dustin's first child, Tatum Gretzky Johnson, was born just over two years . On 26-1-1961 Wayne Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario. I got it from my Dad. "[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. He scored 37points in 31games for the team in the regular season and the playoffs,[64] and the Blues came within one game of the Conference Finals. Paulina?s future is secured, no question about it. In 2000, the former forward was linked with a deal to become a part-owner, governor, and head of hockey operations for the Phoenix Coyotes. ", "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. On May 25, 2021, Gretzky announced that he would step down from his role with the Oilers, stating that "The Oilers, their fans, and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me and my family for over four decadesand that will never end. [5] His first coach, Dick Martin, remarked that he handled the puck better than the 10-year-olds. [29] His coach at the Edmonton Oilers, Glen Sather, said, "He was so much more intelligent. His 50th goal of the season came on December 30, 1981, in the final seconds of a 75 win against the Philadelphia Flyers and was his fifth of the game. Wayne Gretzky speaks during a promotional event for the Beijing Kunlun Red Star in his role as global ambassador for the team on Sept. 13, 2018. . Me: "Get over there and intercept it." [248] He has endorsed and launched a wide variety of products, from pillow cases to insurance. By 1978, the World Hockey Association, which had been in competition with the established NHL since 1972, was clearly struggling. No Canadian kid wanted to play like Makarov or Larionov. His mother was of English, and some Cornish and Irish, descent. Gretzky accomplished the feat in only 39games. WAYNE GRETZKY AND JANET JONES' CHILDREN. [204] The Canadian team won the gold medal, its first in 50years. [80], "He was, I think, the first Canadian forward to play a true team game", said hockey writer and former NHL goaltender Ken Dryden. Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky) Instagram photo. Growing up, he was a competitive runner and also batted .492 for the Junior Intercounty Baseball League's Brantford CKCP Braves in the summer of 1980. [108] Gretzky rejected a three-year deal worth $15million with the Blues, and on July 21, signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier for a two-year, $8million (plus incentives) contract. The Canadians had trouble with the big ice. [196] He took an indefinite leave of absence on December 17 to be with his ill mother. [144] Because he was so light compared to other players, goalies were often surprised by how hard Gretzky's shot was. In 1985, Gretzky bought the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for C$175,000. The Great One wasn't going to leave hockey behind forever, though. In October 2016, he returned to the Oilers as a minority partner and vice-chairman of their parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group. "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. [109], Gretzky ended his professional playing career with the New York Rangers, where he played his final three seasons and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997. [22] In the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, Gretzky scored 26 points playing for Brantford. [110] The Rangers were defeated in the Conference Finals in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers, despite Gretzky leading the Rangers in the playoffs with 10goals and 10assists. [2], Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky honed his skills on a backyard rink and regularly played minor hockey at a level far above his peers. [271], Gretzky's career achievements include many awards and honours. 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. 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. 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. The Oilers reached the Avco World Trophy finals (the only WHA championship series appearance for the franchise), where they lost to the Winnipeg Jets in six games. [125][126] He went on to lead the tournament in scoring with 17 points to earn All-Star Team and Best Forward honours. Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach. Him: "If you get cut off, what are you gonna do?" [182], In 2002, the Kings held a jersey retirement ceremony and erected a life-sized statue of Gretzky outside the Staples Center; the ceremony was delayed until then so that Bruce McNall, who had recently finished a prison sentence, could attend. He was unsuccessful both times. [72] The Oilers also won the Stanley Cup with Gretzky in 1985, 1987 and 1988. He was nervous Edmonton would greet him with boos, but they were eagerly waiting for him. [169] Defencemen found Gretzky a most elusive target. Walter Gretzky, the ultimate Canadian hockey dad who taught and nurtured the Great One, has died. The Wayne Gretzky family is very close.. Wayne Gretzky was born January 26, 1961.. His dad, Walter Gretzky, was born October 8, 1938. [28] With the third pick, the Sault Ste. Gretzky represented the Blues in the game, which his team won 87. Walter Gretzky father of hockey hall-of-famer Wayne Gretzky waves to fans as the Buffalo Sabres play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto on Tuesday, January 17, 2017. instagram.com. Me: "The guy he's passing to." [175] He stressed the need to play and practice hockey for the love of the game,[176] and felt that skill was more important to develop than talent and that Canada had the potential to be world leaders in skill development. Winding up for the slapshot, he will stop for an almost imperceptible moment at the top of his arc, like a golfer with a rhythmic swing." "[82], At the same time, Gretzky recognized the contributions of their coach in the success of the Oilers: "Under the guidance of Glen Sather, our Oiler teams became adept at generating speed, developing finesse, and learning a transition game with strong European influences."[83]. "[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. [189] The sale was not completed until the following year, on February 15, 2001, after two missed deadlines while securing financing and partners before Ellman and Gretzky could take over. The athlete gene is certainly present in the Gretzky family. Born in Brantford, Ontario in 1961, Wayne Gretzky learned to skate on a rink his father Walter built in the family's backyard. No. [237], Gretzky owned or partnered in the ownership of two sports teams before becoming a partner in the Phoenix Coyotes. [69], Gretzky was named an officer of the Order of Canada on June 25, 1984, for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey. Bidders for the club had indicated that Gretzky would no longer be associated with the team after it emerged from bankruptcy, and on September 24, 2009, Gretzky stepped down as head coach and head of hockey operations of the Coyotes. [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). The 33-year-old daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky posed for a photo with one of her pals during her recent getaway, and rocked a pair of form-fitting SKIMS shapewear for the snapshot. "Gretzky, the kid from Brantford with the Belarusian name, was the acceptable face of Soviet hockey. [165] Gretzky also excelled at box lacrosse, which he played during the summer. Posted . [264][265], Gretzky has written several books, including Gretzky: An Autobiography (1990), with Rick Reilly,[266] and 99: My Life in Pictures (1999), with John Davidson and Dan Diamond. [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. [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. Marie Greyhounds selected Gretzky, even though Walter Gretzky had told the team Wayne would not move to Sault Ste. 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. 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. 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. "Gretzky reversed that. [178] He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000. The Oshawa Generals picked Tom McCarthy first, and the Niagara Falls Flyers picked Steve Peters second overall. Him: "Where do you skate?" Wayne Gretzky will eventually leave his fortune and many assets to all five of his children and his two grandchildren. He led the tournament in scoring with 12 points en route to a second-place finish to the Soviet Union,[126] losing 81 in the final. [38] Skalbania sold Gretzky, Mio and Driscoll to Oilers owner Peter Pocklington, a former business partner. He left in 2021 to become an analyst on Turner Sports' NHL coverage. [93] The Kings got off to their best start ever, winning four straight en route to qualifying for the playoffs. Gretzky was having difficulty scoring this season and finished with only nine goals, contributing to this being the only season in which he failed to average at least a point per game, but his last goal brought his scoring total for his combined NHL/WHA career to 1,072, one more than Howe. Mark Messier, who attended the game along with other representatives of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty, was the last.[123]. I've just learned to guess what's going to happen next. Here are just 14 things the family hopes remains on the DL so as not to tarnish the Gretzky family name. It most recently sold for US$2.8 million. [145] Statistics support the contention: whereas Phil Esposito, who had set the previous goal-scoring record, needed 550 shots to score 76 goals, Gretzky netted his 76th after only 287 shotsabout half as many. The reality is: If Wayne Gretzky's son can't hit a curveball as well as the next kid, then Wayne Gretzky's . At age ten, after scoring 196 goals in his hockey league, he scored 158 goals in lacrosse. "If a guy ran him, Wayne would embarrass that guy", said former Oiler Lee Fogolin. [45] Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year,[35] and helped the Oilers to first place in the league.[46]. [129] In the deciding game three, Gretzky and Lemieux once again combined for the game-winner. [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. [126] Gretzky did not win his first international competition until the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada defeated Sweden in a best-of-three finals. The Canadian coach, Punch McLean, was originally sceptical of Gretzky's ability as he was the youngest player to compete in the tournament at the age of 16. 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. 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]. "You never knew what he was going to do", said hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. Published Aug 7, 2019. [105] At the time of the trade, the Blues and New York Rangers emerged as front-runners, but the Blues met his salary demands. Walter Gretzky, the father of hockey great Wayne . [119] Upon returning to New York, Gretzky announced he would retire after the Rangers' last game of the season. [245] Gretzky was a board member and executive officer of the Hespeler Hockey Company. [150], Despite his lack of strength, Gretzky had remarkable physical stamina. [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. [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. "Janet makes me go to hot yoga," Gretzky reveals. "[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. He was the son of Phyllis Hockin and Walter Gretzky. [26] The Gretzkys won, and Wayne played Junior B hockey with the Toronto Nationals, in a league that included 20-year-olds. [71] Five times between 198182 and 198687, Gretzky led the NHL in goals scored. [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 same success was not immediate when they joined the NHL, but within four seasons, the Oilers were competing for the Stanley Cup. [246], Gretzky's appeal as a product endorser far surpassed that of other hockey players of his era. Bassett saw Gretzky as the most promising young prospect. Introduction. "[164] His stamina is also indicated by the fact that Gretzky often scored late in the game. Speaking of Paulina, she and golf player Dustin Johnson have been in a relationship since 2011. When the WHA folded, the Oilers joined the NHL, where he established many scoring records and led his team to four Stanley Cup championships. The jumpshot is cake. Then he'd come back and say, "Now, this is how the smart player does it." Figures in boldface italics are NHL records. Like his hero, Gordie Howe, Gretzky possessed "an exceptional capacity to renew his energy resources quickly." Under the agreement, the WHA agreed to fold after the 1979 season with the Oilers and three other teams (the Hartford (New England) Whalers, the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets) joining the older league as expansion franchises. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times, and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.[8]. [116], The 199899 season was his last as a professional player. . 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. He is one of the best ice hockey players of all time. As a result, he developed a deep understanding of its shifting patterns and dynamics. I hope Canadians understand that. [226] They met regularly after that, but did not become a couple until 1987 when they ran into each other at a Los Angeles Lakers game that Gretzky and Alan Thicke were attending. [43][44] Gretzky finished third in the league in scoring at 110points, behind Robbie Ftorek and Ral Cloutier. By the end of the 1990s, Wayne Gretzky had hung up his skates. 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. Where Gretzky differed from others in his development was in the extraordinary commitment of time on the ice. [7] Gretzky played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers. 18. [213], Thirteen years later, on December 31, 2016, Gretzky participated in the Winter Classic Alumni Game, which was held between teams of former Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues players two days before the 2017 Winter Classic. [284] The Wayne Gretzky Trophy is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the OHL's Western Conference. "[167] Gretzky adroitly applied this technique as a professional player, avoiding checks with such skill that a rumour circulated that there was an unwritten rule not to hit him. She and Johnson posed beside her father Wayne and mom Janet, while their two boys sat beneath them in the cutest . [47] In exchange for agreeing to keep Gretzky off the draft board, the NHL placed Edmonton at the bottom of the draft order. 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. It marked the first time Gretzky did not finish as the tournament's leading scorer with seven points in eight games for fourth overall. [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.