Wayne Gretzky, also known as “the Great One,” is widely considered one of the best players to ever grace the ice in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, Gretzky had a passion for hockey from a young age.
Starting at the age of two and a half, Gretzky hit the ice with his father’s guidance and quickly fell in love with the sport. At just six years old, he was already making a name for himself as a standout player in a hockey league for ten and 11-year-old boys. As he grew up, Gretzky’s skills continued to develop, leading to his remarkable performance as the youngest player and top scorer at the Junior World Cup in 1977. 1
Gretzky’s professional hockey career took off when he signed with the World Hockey Association’s Indianapolis Racers in 1978-79. However, his time with the Racers was short-lived, as his contract was soon purchased by the Edmonton Oilers. When the Oilers joined the NHL in the 1979-80 season, Gretzky’s career took off even further.
As team captain and center, Gretzky led the Oilers to an impressive four Stanley Cup wins in the 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, and 1987-88 seasons. After the 1987-88 season, Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he continued to make a huge impact on the ice.
Table of Contents
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Biographical Details
| Full name | Wayne Douglas Gretzky |
| Nickname | The Great One |
| Birthdate | January 26, 1961 |
| Birthplace | Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Age | 62 years old |
| Father’s name | Walter Gretzky |
| Mother’s name | Phyllis Hockin |
| Sibling | Brent Gretzky Keith Gretzky Glen Gretzky Kim Gretzky |
| High School | Brantford |
| College | Sault Ste. |
| Gender | Male |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife’s Name | Janet Jones (m. 1988) |
| Ex-Girlfriends | Unknown |
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Career
Wayne Gretzky, also known as “The Great One,” is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Despite initial doubts about his ability to succeed in the NHL, Gretzky’s success in the WHA proved to be a stepping stone towards his dominant NHL career.
A Tribute to a Legend: The Wayne Gretzky Statue
Outside of Rogers Place in Edmonton stands a statue of Wayne Gretzky holding the Stanley Cup, reminding fans of the incredible achievements he accomplished while playing for the Oilers. This magnificent statue, carved by John Weaver, is a testament to Gretzky’s legacy and impact on the sport of hockey.
A Phenomenal Start: The 1979-80 NHL Season
In his first season in the NHL, 1979-80, Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the league’s most valuable player. This remarkable accomplishment was just the beginning of an eight-year streak of winning this award. During the 1979-80 season, Gretzky tied Marcel Dionne for the scoring lead with 137 points, but Dionne won the Art Ross Trophy due to scoring more goals. Despite not winning the Calder Memorial Trophy for the best NHL rookie, Gretzky holds the record for the most points scored by a first-year NHL player.
Setting Records and Winning Awards: The 1980-81 NHL Season
In his second season, Gretzky broke records and continued to dominate the NHL. He won his first Art Ross Trophy, a record-breaking seven in a row, with 164 points, surpassing Bobby Orr’s record for assists in a season and Phil Esposito’s record for points in a season. Additionally, Gretzky won the Hart Trophy for the second time in a row, solidifying his place as one of the greatest players of all time. During the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, Gretzky made history with five assists in a single game, a playoff record against the Montreal Canadiens.
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Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Titles and Awards
In addition to these awards, Gretzky also won the Lady Byng Trophy five times, which is given to the player who exhibits the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. He was also named the NHL Plus-Minus Award winner four times.
Gretzky’s international success includes helping lead Team Canada to two Canada Cup championships and winning the tournament’s most valuable player award in 1987. He was also a member of the gold-medal winning Canadian team at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
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Aside from his on-ice success, Gretzky was also recognized for his contributions off the ice. In 1998, he was awarded the NHL’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2000, he was named to the Order of Canada.
Gretzky’s record-breaking achievements and contributions to the sport of hockey have earned him widespread recognition and admiration, and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Later Years
Wayne Gretzky, also known as “The Great One,” is a legendary hockey player who has made a significant impact on the sport both on and off the ice. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame shortly after retiring from playing and has since stayed involved in the game through various roles, including coaching and management. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the later years of Wayne Gretzky’s life and career.
Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
As one of the greatest hockey players of all time, it comes as no surprise that Wayne Gretzky was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame shortly after he retired from playing. His contributions to the sport, both on and off the ice, have cemented his place in hockey history.
Canada’s Olympic Victory
In 2002, Wayne Gretzky became the executive director of Canada’s men’s hockey team, and under his leadership, they were able to win the gold medal at the Salt Lake City Games. This victory ended a 50-year drought for the Canadian team and solidified Gretzky’s impact on the sport.
Management and Coaching with the Phoenix Coyotes
In early 2001, not long after working with the Olympic team, Wayne Gretzky became a managing partner for the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL. He served as the team’s head coach for several seasons and was also involved in the front office. Despite his passion for the game, coach Gretzky was unable to lead the team to the playoffs or fill the arena with fans, and after four challenging years, he stepped down from his coaching role in September 2009.
Life After Hockey
Today, Wayne Gretzky lives in California with his family and has since pursued other business ventures, including working in the restaurant and wine industries. Although he may no longer be on the ice, his legacy in the sport of hockey remains as strong as ever.
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Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Trade to Los Angeles
Wayne Gretzky, also known as “The Great One,” is widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time. Throughout his career, Gretzky established numerous records and accolades that have yet to be broken. However, one of the most memorable moments in his career was the trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. 3
The Real Reason Behind the Trade
For years, fans have speculated about the reason for the trade. Some believed that Gretzky pushed for the move to help his actress wife, Janet Jones, further her career. However, others believed that the National Hockey League (NHL) was responsible for the trade. The league believed that the Oilers were wasting their best player and that if Gretzky lived in Los Angeles, he could do more to promote the sport in Southern California.
Regardless of the reason, the trade took place, and Gretzky donned the Kings jersey for the first time in the fall of 1988. Over the next eight seasons, he proved why he was still the best player in the NHL. In 1993, he led the Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens.
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Coaching Influence
Wayne Gretzky’s love for hockey can be traced back to his childhood. His father, Walter, built a rink in the family’s backyard and taught him and his siblings how to play the game. He taught them to “skate where the puck is going, not where it has been.” This philosophy became a hallmark of Gretzky’s style of play.
Gretzky’s first coach, Dick Martin, recognized his talent at a young age. Martin said that even if his own son was a great player, he would be forgotten because of what the young Gretzky was doing. Despite not having any natural skills, Gretzky credited much of his success to his father’s teaching and coaching.
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Physical Info
When Gretzky first joined the NHL in 1979, people said he was “too small, too thin, and too slow to be a force in the league.” He weighed 160 pounds (73 kg) at the time, while the average NHL player weighed 189 pounds (86 kg).
On the other hand, Gretzky tied for first place in scoring and won the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player in the league that year.
Even though he only weighed 165 pounds, he broke the single-season scoring record with 164 points in his second year in the league.
The next year, 1981–82, he scored 92 goals and set a record. At 170 pounds, he was still “a wisp compared to the average NHL player.”
“About 170 pounds” is how much he weighed for most of his career. He often got the lowest score in Edmonton Oilers strength tests, and he could barely bench press 140 pounds (64 kg)
Gretzky weighs 84 kg right now (185 lb). In the same way, he is 6 feet tall (183 cm).
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Wife and Kids
The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is a name synonymous with the sport of hockey. He is considered one of the greatest players to ever grace the ice and has made a lasting impact on the sport. But, beyond his on-ice accomplishments, there is another side to Gretzky that many fans may not know about- his family life. In this article, we will delve into the personal life of Wayne Gretzky and take a closer look at his wife and children.
The Meeting of Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones
Wayne Gretzky’s love story with Janet Jones is nothing short of a fairy tale. The two first met in 1984 when Gretzky was a judge on the popular TV show “Dance Fever.” However, Jones doesn’t remember ever being on the show. It wasn’t until 1987 that the two saw each other again and this time, it was a chance encounter at a Los Angeles Lakers game with Alan Thicke that brought them together.
The Royal Wedding of Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones
Wayne Gretzky proposed to Janet Jones in January 1988, and the couple tied the knot on July 16, 1988. The wedding was a grand affair that was referred to as “The Royal Wedding” by the Canadian press. The ceremony was held at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton and was attended by guards of honor from the Edmonton Fire Department. The wedding was also broadcast live across Canada, and it’s said that Gretzky spent over a million dollars on the big day.
The Gretzky Family
Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones are proud parents to five children- Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma. Paulina, the eldest of the five, made headlines in 2013 when she announced her engagement to golfer Dustin Johnson. Ty, the second child, played hockey for Shattuck-Saint Mary’s before dropping out and going to Arizona State University. Trevor, on the other hand, used to play baseball in a small league.
Wayne Gretzky (Hockey Player): Net Worth 2023
In 2023, Wayne Gretzky’s net worth was likely to be more than $200 million.4
Also, by 1995, he was among the top five athletes paid the most to endorse products in North America.
He worked for The Coca-Cola Company, Domino’s Pizza, Sharp Corporation, and Upper Deck Company, among others.
Forbes says that Gretzky made $93.8 million between 1990 and 1998.
He has sponsored and started many different things, from pillowcases to insurance. Gretzky is also a partner in First Team Sports, a company that makes sports equipment, and Worldwide Roller Hockey, Inc., which runs roller hockey rinks.
FAQ’S
1. Wayne Gretzky won how many Stanley Cups?
Ans: Throughout his career, Wayne Gretzky won four Stanley Cups. He won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers in 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, and 1987-88.
2. Why did Wayne Gretzky stop playing?
Ans: Gretzky retired for no good reason, but at age 38, he started losing his skills and stopped playing.
3. What happened to Gretzky?
Ans: After leaving the Oilers, Wayne Gretzky will work as a Turner studio commentator. His next step will be to make a living as a radio host.
Turner Sports has hired “The Great One” to comment on NHL games from the studio. It will start in the fall when the network’s rights deal with the league starts.
4. Why did Gretzky pick jersey no. 99?
Ans: When Gretzky was with the Greyhounds, he was the first player to wear the number 99. Then, he wanted to wear number 9 because Gordie Howe was his favorite hockey player.
However, his teammate Brian Gualazzi was already wearing it. So, Gretzky chose 99 because coach Muzz MacPherson told him to do that.
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