Wayne Gretzky . Born in Brantford, Ontario in 1961, Wayne Gretzky learned to skate on a rink his father Walter built in the family's backyard. [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. No. The Family That Sweats Together. Tatum . [54] The Calder was instead awarded to Boston Bruins defenceman Ray Bourque. [202] The Coyotes' performance declined in 200607, as the team ended the season 15th in their conference. [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). Just a Regular Blue Jersey", "Hockey; Rangers Waste Gretzky's Gifts Again", "In Signing Messier, Canucks' Persistence Paid Off", "NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Assists", "Cole: Bobby Orr was The One, not The Great One", "List of 16-year old World Junior Championship players", "Wayne Gretzky never thought he would make this team", "Hasek Stares Down Canada in Shootout, 21", "Finland Stuns Canada, 32, to Win Bronze Medal", "To figure Gretzky's greatness just tally up the numbers", "Duhatschek: In the City of Angels, NHL mends fences with The Great One", "Wayne Gretzky pays respects to Islanders great Mike Bossy, who passed away at 65 - Forever Blueshirts: A site for New York Rangers fanatics", "Edmonton Oilers have had some of the NHL's best enforcers", "Gloves Off: The 10 Top NHL Enforcers of All Time", "Walking in the footsteps of hockey inaction", "Gretzky officially welcomed into Hockey Hall of Fame", "Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game", "Gretzky jersey ceremony turns into L.A. lovefest", "Plus: N.H.L.Phoenix; Gretzky's Role To Be Limited", "Canucks spoil Great One's coaching debut", "Minnesota Wild 1, Phoenix Coyotes 2 Final", "Gretzky returns with five-year extension", "Gretzky moved to tears as Russia beats Canada 20", "Wayne Gretzky, in China, says NHL letting its stars play in Olympics is 'better for everyone', "Canada Roster 2010 Olympic Winter Games", "Anxious moments during cauldron malfunction", "People chase Gretzky through the streets of Vancouver", "Oilers will play Canadiens in outdoor game", "Fans, players bundle up for historic game", "Wayne Gretzky returns to Oilers in executive role", "Wayne Gretzky stepping away from role with Edmonton Oilers", "Bo-ners, Re-gretz and Mike-believe Two-line Head In Forms", "Gotta See It: Wayne Gretzky's very brief 'Simpsons' cameo", "Why won't Wayne Gretzky pick up his Order of Canada? The event reportedly cost Gretzky over US$1million. He was 82 . [69], Gretzky was named an officer of the Order of Canada on June 25, 1984, for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey. Mark Messier, who attended the game along with other representatives of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty, was the last.[123]. Then he'd come back and say, "Now, this is how the smart player does it." In 2000, he became part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, and following the 200405 NHL lock-out, he became the team's head coach. Figures in boldface italics are NHL records. The Gretzky family showed some love for Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open. [186] Gretzky was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. [180] In October 1999, Edmonton honoured Gretzky by renaming one of Edmonton's busiest freeways, Capilano Drivewhich passes by Northlands Coliseumto Wayne Gretzky Drive. [17], In Gretzky's first appearance in Edmonton after the trade, a game nationally televised in Canada, he received a four-minute standing ovation. Wayne Gretzky junior career. In 1990, the Associated Press named Gretzky Male Athlete of the Decade. Although the announced price was $850,000, Pocklington actually paid $700,000. 4:28 | March 5, 2021. . 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. Janet Jones With Her Husband Wayne Gretzky (Source: Chatelaine) The couple is blessed with five adorable children Paulina, Ty Robert, Trevor Douglas, Tristan Wayne, and Emma Marie. Gretzky was one of six players voted to the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team. [257][258] From 1993 to 2020, Gretzky and a business partner operated the Wayne Gretzky's restaurant near the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. I don't care if you're Carl Lewis, you can't outskate that little black thing. [199], In 2006, Moyes became majority owner of the team. My Dad was very smart."[152]. [224][225], While serving as a judge on Dance Fever, Gretzky met actress Janet Jones. He won a record nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player in the NHL. [14] The farm was where Wayne skated on ice for the first time, aged two years, 10 months. Among their five . [144] He had a fast and accurate shot. 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. [181] Also in Edmonton, the local transit authority assigned a rush-hour bus route numbered No. So I had a long head start on everyone else. [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. His mother was of English, and some Cornish and Irish, descent. [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). 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). 31. 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. . By the end of the regular season, the signings of Gretzky and other young stars in addition to other factors had compelled enough of the hardline NHL owners to change their positions, and an agreement (technically recognized as the 1979 expansion by the NHL) was finalized. He knew he wasn't big enough, strong enough, or even fast enough to do what he wanted to do if others focused on him. The WHA completed the playoffs of its final season as planned. [199], Gretzky was executive director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was from Brantford, Ontario, Canada. By 1995, he was among the five highest-paid athlete endorsers in North America, with deals from The Coca-Cola Company, Domino's Pizza, Sharp Corporation, and Upper Deck Company among others. They all wanted to play like Gretzky. [144], He also had strong general athletic skills. Him: "Which means" Wayne hails from a large family of five children. [66], The Edmonton Oilers finished first overall in their last WHA regular season. Nine out of ten people think it's instinct, and it isn't. [226] According to Gretzky, Jones does not recall his being on the show. He led the tournament in scoring for the second consecutive time and was named to the All-Star Team. [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. The only information we know now is that the baby's name starts with a T, keeping in line with a family tradition for male names. The NHL did not allow the signing of players under age 20, but the WHA had no rules regarding such signings. [16] Additionally, Walter gave the advice to "skate where the puck's going, not where it's been". [7] Gretzky played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers. Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky) Instagram photo. [267] His most recent work, 99: Stories of the Game (2016), with Kirstie McLellan Day, was an in-depth look at the history of hockey. [197] Gretzky resumed his head-coaching duties on December 28. The jumpshot is cake. His first taste of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) action had actually come a . 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. [206] He was asked to manage Canada's team at the 2005 Ice Hockey World Championships, but declined due to his mother's poor health. [150], Despite his lack of strength, Gretzky had remarkable physical stamina. I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, the son of Phyllis Leone (Hockin) and Walter Gretzky. He was 82. I hope Canadians understand that. 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. "If a guy ran him, Wayne would embarrass that guy", said former Oiler Lee Fogolin. [20], By age 10, Gretzky had scored an astonishing 378goals and 139assists in just oneseason with the Brantford Nadrofsky Steelers. [105] At the time of the trade, the Blues and New York Rangers emerged as front-runners, but the Blues met his salary demands. 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. As you . A great athlete, he shared his genius with the world of Ice Hockey.The legend is frequently seen talking about his family. Walter's drills were his own invention, and were ahead of their time in Canada. [64][65] By the time he finished playing in Edmonton, he held or shared 49NHL records. [45] Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year,[35] and helped the Oilers to first place in the league.[46]. "The Soviets and Gretzky changed the NHL game", says Dryden. [223], Gretzky is a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States, having become a naturalized citizen of the latter. [256], In 2017 as part-owner with Andrew Peller Ltd., Gretzky opened a winery and distillery bearing the name of Wayne Gretzky Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and with products labelled by the trademark, No. [203] 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. Wayne dropped off his daughter Emma at Court 8 in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. 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. [56] This victory propelled the Kings into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, where they faced the Montreal Canadiens. The experts voted Gretzky number one. Let the puck do all the moving and you get yourself in the right place. [196] He took an indefinite leave of absence on December 17 to be with his ill mother. [126] His 17 points remain the most scored by a 16-year-old in the World Junior Championships. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mourners wore masks at the service, which was limited . "You never knew what he was going to do", said hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. [151] He cultivated a love of hockey in his sons and provided them with a backyard rink and drills to enhance their skills. The men including Wayne, two of his sons Trevor and Ty, and his grandchildren Tatum and River, who belong to Paulina stood . [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. Gobuty turned down the proposal and the players landed in Edmonton. [248] He has endorsed and launched a wide variety of products, from pillow cases to insurance. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times, and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.[8]. [91] The arena was sold out, and the attendance of 17,503 was the Oilers' biggest crowd ever to that date. [106] Gretzky was immediately named the team's captain. [130], The 1991 Canada Cup marked the last time the tournament was played under the "Canada Cup" moniker. [193] Ultimately, Gretzky agreed to become head coach on August 8, 2005. 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. "[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. [13] Wayne was joined by a sister, Kim (born 1963), and brothers Keith, Glen and Brent. 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 . It most recently sold for US$2.8 million. That's my whole strategy: Find Open Ice. The Kings refused, instead offering Jimmy Carson. [142], He passed and shot with prodigious skill. Gretzky began skating at age two and a half and was first taught hockey by his father. "[149] Gretzky said he sensed other players more than he actually saw them. "[141] Gretzky's ability to improvise came into the spotlight at the 1998 Olympics in Japan. [234], Wayne Gretzky's uncle, Al Gretzky, ran as a Conservative candidate in London West in the 2006 federal election and for the libertarian Freedom Party of Ontario in the 2013 provincial by-election for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Marie, a northern Ontario city that inflicts a heavy travelling schedule on its junior team. And like his parents, the retired athlete also has five children with his wife . "A lot of times, I can turn and pass without even looking."[5]. [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. He made his 2 million dollar fortune with Professional Ice Hockey Player (Retired). He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). [68] 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. Wayne Gretzky said in a social media post Thursday night that his father battled Parkinson's . [198] The Coyotes' record at the end of the 200506 season was 38395, a 16-win improvement over 200304; they were 36365 in games Gretzky coached. 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. Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung . 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. [204] The Canadian team won the gold medal, its first in 50years. [185] On May 10, 2010, he was awarded The Ambassador Award of Excellence by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission. He made them skate to his level and pass and finish up to his level or they would be embarrassed. 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. 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 marked the first time Gretzky did not finish as the tournament's leading scorer with seven points in eight games for fourth overall. [120], The final game of Gretzky's career was a 21overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 18, 1999, in Madison Square Garden. It's all practice. [229] Broadcast live throughout Canada from Edmonton's St. Joseph's Basilica, members of the Fire Department acted as ceremonial guards. The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. Peter Gzowski says that the best of the best athletes in all sports understand the game so well, and in such detail, that they can instantly recognize and capitalize upon emerging patterns of play. Sports commentators said that he played like he had "eyes in the back of his head. [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. 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. [73], When the Oilers joined the NHL, Gretzky continued to play under his personal services contract with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington. [17], The team Gretzky played on at age six was otherwise composed of 10-year-olds. "[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]. 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 . Wayne Gretzky will eventually leave his fortune and many assets to all five of his children and his two grandchildren. "[173], Gretzky was named honorary chairman of the Open Ice Summit, held in August 1999 to discuss ways to improve Canadian ice hockey. [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. [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. The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen partly because its yard was flat . Gretzky shared a sweet family photo in celebration of Mother's Day on May 9, 2021. In a recently published video, the Gretzky's seen participating in a family baseball match where everyone looked very happy while playing. [271] Earlier in 2015, Gretzky endorsed Patrick Brown during his successful campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. That's what made him such a phenomenal player. When the WHA folded, the Oilers joined the NHL, where he established many scoring records and led his team to four Stanley Cup championships. A video tribute toward the end of the service included pictures from the early days on the backyard rink, Wayne's triumphs, Walter on the ice teaching kids, the Gretzky memorabilia in the family . Practicing for hours on end, it was here that a young Gretzky developed the skating, shooting and stickhandling techniques that appeared instinctive to so many over the course of his career. 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. Walter Gretzky, died on Thursday at the age of 82. The rule change became known as "the Gretzky rule. [136], Gretzky's size and strength were unimpressivein fact, far below average for the NHLbut he is widely considered the smartest player in the history of the game. The Wayne Gretzky family is very close.. Wayne Gretzky was born January 26, 1961.. His dad, Walter Gretzky, was born October 8, 1938. The Gretzkys are basically the royal family in Canada and they will be adding a new member to their family very soon. A family portrait of Wayne and Janet with kids Trevor, Paulina and Ty in 1997. . [203] His temper boiled over after Canada's 33draw versus 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". 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 . [126][128], Gretzky debuted with the Team Canada's men's team at the 1981 Canada Cup. 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. Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky continued doing this throughout his NHL career. [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. "[148], Commentators have noted Gretzky's uncanny ability to judge the position of the other players on the iceso much so that many suspected he enjoyed some kind of extrasensory perception. [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. . [47] In exchange for agreeing to keep Gretzky off the draft board, the NHL placed Edmonton at the bottom of the draft order. It's a piece of frozen real estate that's just in between the defense and the forward. [39] In game two, Gretzky and Mark Howe each scored a goal and Gordie Howe picked up an assist as the WHA won 42. ", "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.