Wayne's brothers Brent and Keith both had short-lived professional careers in hockey and his son, Trevor, was an impressive high school football quarterback who played on the same team as the sons of Will Smith and Joe Montana. Wayne Gretzky: Biography, Career, Net Worth, Family, Top Stories for Paulina Gretzky rocks sparkly look at dad Wayne's birthday party . "[76][78] The rule was reversed for the 199293 season. By the time Gretzky turned six, he was playing hockey alongside the teenagers in his locale. [43][44] Gretzky finished third in the league in scoring at 110points, behind Robbie Ftorek and Ral Cloutier. "I get a feeling about where a teammate is going to be", he said. [32][33] Skalbania opted to have Gretzky sign a personal-services contract rather than a standard player contract in part because by that point it was well known that a majority of NHL owners, if not yet the required to add new NHL franchises, were willing to absorb at least some WHA teams. "[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. Wayne is married to American actress Janet Jones. He is survived by their five children: Wayne, Keith, Glen, Brent and Kim, and several grandchildren. "[270], During the 2015 Canadian federal election campaign, Gretzky endorsed the Conservative Party and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and was featured at a campaign rally praising Harper by calling him "wonderful to the country. 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. [91] After the game, Gretzky took the opportunity to confirm his patriotism: "I'm still proud to be a Canadian. 444. I don't care if you're Carl Lewis, you can't outskate that little black thing. Wayne Gretzky is regarded as the greatest professional ice hockey player of all time by sportswriters, players, the NHL itself, and the Canadian ice hockey magazine The Hockey News. [247] Forbes estimates that Gretzky made US$93.8million from 1990 to 1998. Wayne Gretzky Family. "I went periodically," Gretzky said with a laugh back in 2018. His mom, Phyllis Gretzky, was born October 14, 1941 and passed away on December 19, 2005. [116], The 199899 season was his last as a professional player. At coach Muzz MacPherson's suggestion, Gretzky settled on 99.[30]. [65] "The Trade", as it came to be known,[89] upset Canadians to the extent that New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis demanded the government block it,[90] and Pocklington was burned in effigy outside Northlands Coliseum. "I do! He led the tournament in scoring for the second consecutive time and was named to the All-Star Team. [199], On May 5, 2009, the Coyotes' holding company, Dewey Ranch Hockey LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Wayne Gretzky gets first grandchild as daughter Paulina gives birth 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. "[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. Wayne hails from a large family of five children. Like a magician, he had to direct attention elsewhere, to his four teammates on the ice with him, to create the momentary distraction in order to move unnoticed into the open ice where size and strength didn't matter. Wayne Gretzky junior career. Turner Sports has reached a multi-year agreement with Wayne Gretzky to be a studio . In his autobiography, Gretzky describes how at practices his father would drill him on the fundamentals of smart hockey: Him: "Where's the last place a guy looks before he passes it?" [144], He also had strong general athletic skills. [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. [119] Upon returning to New York, Gretzky announced he would retire after the Rangers' last game of the season. He is one of the best ice hockey players of all time. [122] Gretzky ended his career with a final point, assisting on the lone New York goal scored by Brian Leetch. He originally wanted to wear number9for his hockey hero Gordie Howebut it was already being worn by teammate Brian Gualazzi. I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. so golf is kind of part of the family. "[158] His weight was 160 pounds (73kg), compared to the NHL average of 189 pounds (86kg) at that time. 4:28 | March 5, 2021. 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). 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. Based on the numbers that today's superstars put . Wayne Gretzky. [199], Gretzky was executive director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Advertisement. [221] A fictional crime-fighting version of him served as one of the main characters in the cartoon ProStars in 1991. [243] In 1992, Gretzky and McNall partnered in an investment to buy a rare Honus Wagner T206 cigarette card for US$451,000, later selling the card. Gretzky shared a sweet family photo in celebration of Mother's Day on May 9, 2021. [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 Gretzky is a famous former professional ice hockey player. [91] Large cheers erupted for his first shift, his first touch of the puck, his two assists, and Mark Messier's body check of Gretzky into the boards. 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. "[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. [146], Veteran Canadian journalist Peter Gzowski wrote that Gretzky seemed to be able to slow down time. Tatum . 11. He'd shoot it into the corner again, only this time he cut across to the other side and picked it up over there. [22] In the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, Gretzky scored 26 points playing for Brantford. [37] Mio paid the $4,000 bill for the flight with his credit card. Wayne Gretzky - Age, Bio, Birthday, Family, Net Worth | National Today [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. [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). "[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. The Heritage Classic, held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, was the first regular season NHL game to be played outdoors. [257][258] From 1993 to 2020, Gretzky and a business partner operated the Wayne Gretzky's restaurant near the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. 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. That's my whole strategy: Find Open Ice. [150], Despite his lack of strength, Gretzky had remarkable physical stamina. [164] History repeated itself in June 2011, when Gretzky's 17-year-old son, Trevor, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. He distorts time, and not only by slowing it down. Gretzky began skating at age two and a half and was first taught hockey by his father. The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., October 10, 1989. . Phyllis Gretzky died of lung cancer on December 19. Wayne Gretzky: Biography, Career, Net Worth, Family, Top Stories for 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. [231] Ty played hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's,[232] but quit the sport, and attended Arizona State University. [190][191] Gretzky convinced his long-time agent Michael Barnett to join the team as its General Manager. [45] Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year,[35] and helped the Oilers to first place in the league.[46]. Most Goals in a Season (92) In the 1981-82 season, Gretzky broke Phil Esposito's record for goals in a season by amassing 92 over 80 games. May 26, 2021 at 6:25 p.m. "The Great One" is headed from the front office to a cable television studio. [204] The Canadian team won the gold medal, its first in 50years. "[153], Gretzky also credits his coach at the Edmonton Oilers, Glen ("Slats") Sather, as an important influence in his development as a hockey player. "Absolutely", Gretzky said. [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. [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". Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian-born retired professional hockey player and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $250 million. [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". It most recently sold for US$2.8 million. Gretzky played for 10 years with the Oilers, with Sather as coach. [114] Along with Jaromir Jagr, he topped the NHL in 199798 with 67assists. Wayne dropped off his daughter Emma at Court 8 in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Friends and family mourn Walter Gretzky at funeral in Brantford [284] The Wayne Gretzky Trophy is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the OHL's Western Conference. Wayne Gretzky remembers his father, Walter, as man with 'a heart of Nevertheless, to avoid any potential for litigation over the validity of Gretzky's personal services contract the Oilers were allowed to keep the young star on their roster as one of their priority selections. . ", "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. Me: "Away from the guy, not towards him. [16] Additionally, Walter gave the advice to "skate where the puck's going, not where it's been". Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a renowned Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. [31] Several WHA teams courted Gretzky, notably the Bulls and the Indianapolis Racers. By age 6 he was playing as an all-star in novice hockey . [202] The Coyotes' performance declined in 200607, as the team ended the season 15th in their conference. Gretzky accomplished the feat in only 39games. 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. [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. [73], When the Oilers joined the NHL, Gretzky continued to play under his personal services contract with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington. 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. [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. 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. I didn't desert my country. [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. "He was improvising all the time. "Janet makes me go to hot yoga," Gretzky reveals. [131] Expectations were high for the Canadian team, but the team lost to the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. 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. That's all hockey is: open ice. Then he'd come back and say, "Now, this is how the smart player does it." No. Gretzky's professional relationship with Keenan was thus never particularly warm, and the coach's public rebukes effectively ended any realistic prospect of Gretzky remaining in St. Louis once he became a free agent. Wayne Gretzky's Son Ty Wed His Bride Sara at a Modern Gatsby Wedding in [5] Despite his unimpressive size and strength, Gretzky's intelligence, stamina, and reading of the game were unrivaled. The Great One wasn't going to leave hockey behind forever, though. The hardest work he does is getting open. [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. [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. 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 WHA completed the playoffs of its final season as planned. He scored his all-time record of 92 goals with just 369 shots. . He said that many of his advantages were a result of his father's brilliant coaching. Gobuty turned down the proposal and the players landed in Edmonton. 224. [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. [126] Gretzky did not win his first international competition until the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada defeated Sweden in a best-of-three finals. By the end of the 1990s, Wayne Gretzky had hung up his skates. Wayne Gretzky, a former Canadian ice hockey player known as "The Great One," has a daughter named Emma. [254][255] Gretzky also made an appearance on the music video for Nickelback's "Rockstar". Me: "Get over there and intercept it." [209] During the Games' opening ceremony, Gretzky, basketball player Steve Nash, skier Nancy Greene, and speed skater Catriona Le May Doan jointly lit the Olympic cauldron inside the ceremony venue of BC Place. 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. [286], In May 2021, one of his 1979 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards sold for $3.75million in a private sale.[287]. [17], In Gretzky's first appearance in Edmonton after the trade, a game nationally televised in Canada, he received a four-minute standing ovation. But as the series continued, his unique skills made him a team leader. [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. . No Canadian kid wanted to play like Makarov or Larionov. Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung . [282][283] The Wayne Gretzky 99 Award is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. "The Soviets and Gretzky changed the NHL game", says Dryden. He was 82. 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. [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. Jones took to Instagram writing: "Love you, Wayne, and a perfect night with most of the family by our sides. "You never knew what he was going to do", said hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card Sells For Record-Setting $3.75 Million [177] The Hall of Fame then announced that he would be the last player to do so. The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen . [230], The couple have five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma. The Oilers went on to win their fifth Cup (and first without Gretzky). [129] In the deciding game three, Gretzky and Lemieux once again combined for the game-winner. The effect of calling offsetting penalties was felt immediately in the NHL, because during the early 1980s, when the Gretzky-era Oilers entered a four-on-four or three-on-three situation with an opponent, they frequently used the space on the ice to score one or more goals. 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 . He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times, and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.[8]. "Gretzky reversed that. 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. Janet Jones Bio: Movies, Husband & Net Worth - Players Bio [47] In exchange for agreeing to keep Gretzky off the draft board, the NHL placed Edmonton at the bottom of the draft order. [71] Five times between 198182 and 198687, Gretzky led the NHL in goals scored. 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. [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. Walter Gretzky, the ultimate Canadian hockey dad who taught and nurtured the Great One, has died. [248] He has endorsed and launched a wide variety of products, from pillow cases to insurance. 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.