Wayne Gretzky – Biography of the Greatest Hockey Player

Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a Canadian ice hockey player who played as a center. He is one of the most famous athletes of the 20th century.

Gretzky set 61 records in the National Hockey League and earned the nickname “The Great One.” During his professional NHL career, he was named Most Valuable Player nine times and was the league’s top scorer ten times. He remains the only North American hockey player to be named to the NHL All-Century Team.

Interesting Facts About Wayne Douglas Gretzky

• As a child, he was also very good at baseball
• Set his first record at age 10, scoring over 300 goals in one season
• His first professional club was the Indianapolis Racers
• His idol was Gordie Howe
• He wore jersey number 99 his entire life, though he originally wanted to wear number 9
• Joined the NHL without participating in the draft
• A legend says the owner of Indianapolis lost Gretzky in a backgammon game to the owner of Edmonton
• He served as captain of all four teams he played for

Photo: espn.co.uk

Childhood and Youth

Wayne Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in the small city of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He is the oldest of five children, with a younger sister named Kim and three younger brothers: Glen, Keith, and Brent.

From an early age, Gretzky’s life was closely tied to sports. Canada was going through a hockey boom, and his choice of sport was obvious. Although his parents had no background in sports, they always supported his ambitions. His father, who worked for a telephone company, was a passionate hockey fan.

Wayne first put on skates at two and a half years old. By age three, his father had built a small backyard rink for him to train on. At age five, he was already playing for a local children’s hockey team.

By the age of 10, Gretzky was scoring 7–8 goals per game. Playing in a youth league, he scored 378 goals and 139 assists in 69 games — an age-group record. His name frequently appeared in hockey publications.

Wayne was also talented in other sports, especially baseball, but the ice rink was his true passion. Despite his small stature, he easily outplayed older and bigger players. He was known for his speed, agility, and clever decision-making.

Not everyone appreciated Gretzky’s talent. He was often disliked by opponents, teammates, and even other parents. Sometimes he was even booed when stepping onto the ice. His parents, concerned about the negative atmosphere, made the tough decision to send him to Toronto for better opportunities.

The Road to the NHL

In 1975, Gretzky played in the Junior Hockey League for the Toronto Nationals, earning 60 points in 28 games in his debut season. Unfortunately, the team finished only in 8th place overall.

The next season, the team changed its name to Seneca, which helped improve both its image and performance. Gretzky himself improved too, scoring 73 points in 32 games. The team finished third. In the playoffs, Gretzky was phenomenal, tallying 75 points in 23 games. Seneca became champions.

The following season, Gretzky joined the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, scoring 182 points in 64 games — second-highest in the league. Though the team didn’t make it past the quarterfinals, Gretzky was named Rookie of the Year and Most Courageous Player.

Originally, he wanted to wear number 9 in honor of his idol Gordie Howe, but it was already taken. After briefly wearing number 19, he switched to 99 on the advice of a team manager — a number he kept for the rest of his career.

Although he dreamed of playing in the NHL, age restrictions stood in the way. At 17, he signed with the WHA’s Indianapolis Racers for $100,000. Technically, the Racers — not the Edmonton Oilers — were his first pro team.

Wayne Gretzky’s NHL Career

Gretzky’s NHL journey began almost by chance. In May 1978, he debuted for Indianapolis but was traded that same month to the Edmonton Oilers.

In 1979, after the NHL merged with the WHA, the Oilers became one of four new NHL teams. Gretzky was now officially an NHL player.

1978–1988: Edmonton Oilers

From his first season in Edmonton, Gretzky began breaking records. His teammates included legendary forwards Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, and playmaking defenseman Paul Coffey.

He made his NHL debut on October 10, 1979, and scored his first goal four days later. That same season, he won his first Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP and became the youngest player to score 50 goals in a season, at just 19 years and 2 months.

For six consecutive seasons, he tallied over 100 points in the regular season. With Edmonton, he won the Stanley Cup four times.

Photo: espn.co.uk

1988–1996: Los Angeles Kings

On August 9, 1988, Gretzky was traded in a shocking move. Edmonton’s owner dealt him to the struggling Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky insisted that Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley be traded with him. The deal, one of the biggest in NHL history, included draft picks, players (Martin Gelinas and Jimmy Carson), and $15 million in cash.

Gretzky was emotional during the press conference, unable to believe the trade was real. Before he joined, the Kings rarely sold out their arena. His arrival turned them into a sensation — tickets became as hard to get as Lakers tickets.

Despite the painful trade, Gretzky continued setting records. In 1989, he became the first Kings player to win the Hart Trophy — his ninth overall. That same year, he surpassed his idol Gordie Howe by reaching over 1,850 points. He led the Kings to the playoffs in 1993 and was the NHL’s top scorer again in 1994.

However, the Kings never won the Stanley Cup with Gretzky. Not even “The Great One” could carry the team to glory on his own.

1996: St. Louis Blues

The Kings eventually declined, and Gretzky requested a trade to a stronger team. In 1996, he joined the St. Louis Blues.

He recorded 100 points again but lost to Detroit in the semifinals. A disagreement with management after the season led to his departure.

1996–1999: New York Rangers

After leaving St. Louis, Gretzky signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent. He reunited with Mark Messier and continued to break records.

In his final season, he surpassed Gordie Howe in total goals. In early 1998, he was officially named “The Greatest Hockey Player of All Time.” He played his last professional game on April 18, 1999.

Achievements

Wayne Gretzky is one of the most decorated hockey players of the 20th century.

Individual achievements:

• Hart Trophy (MVP voted by journalists): 1980–1987, 1989
• Lester B. Pearson Award (MVP voted by players): 1982–1985, 1987
• Art Ross Trophy (top scorer): 1981–1987, 1990, 1991, 1994
• NHL top goal scorer: 1982–1985, 1987
• Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP): 1985, 1988

Team achievements:

• Stanley Cup: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988
• Canada Cup: 1984, 1987, 1991
• Canada Cup silver medal: 1981
• World Cup silver medal: 1996
• World Championship bronze medal: 1982
• World Junior Championship bronze medal: 1978

Career statistics:

• NHL regular season: 1,487 games, 894 goals, 1,963 assists, 2,857 points
• NHL playoffs: 208 games, 122 goals, 260 assists, 382 points
• Team Canada: 57 games, 26 goals, 60 assists, 86 points

Wayne Gretzky: Symbol of Modern Hockey

Gretzky’s arrival in the NHL captured the attention of league executives. They admired his achievements and saw that his modest, less physically imposing presence broke the traditional mold. He became a role model for millions and shattered long-standing stereotypes.

He traveled the world promoting hockey and was key in growing the sport in the United States, especially in the South where hockey had little following. He made hockey incredibly popular.

Usually, players are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame three years after retirement. For Gretzky, an exception was made — he was inducted just seven months after his last game.

His jersey number 99 is permanently retired. No player will ever wear it again.

Wayne Gretzky: Quotes

The legendary player’s words are inspiring and reflect his approach to the game:

• “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”
• “Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest diseases. Its toll on success and happiness is heavy.”
• “The day I stop learning is the day I stop growing.”
• “I wasn’t naturally gifted in size or speed. Everything I did in hockey, I worked for, and that’s how I’ll be as a coach.”
• “The only thing guaranteed is that you won’t reach your goal if you don’t start now.”
• “It’s easier to lose than to win.”
• “Doing nothing is the best way to get nothing.”
• “I don’t believe any player is bigger than the team.”
• “I think sports for kids is the greatest thing in the world.”
• “You need to understand your priorities in life. That’s the only way to succeed.”

Wayne Gretzky After Retirement

After playing his final game, Gretzky said he might still play recreationally. His best friend and former teammate Mark Messier once said: “Come on, there’ll never be another Gretzky! Players like him are born not once in a hundred, but once in a thousand years.”

From 2000 to 2009, Gretzky co-owned the NHL team Phoenix Coyotes and served as head coach from 2005 to 2009. He also found success in business, opening a restaurant, launching a clothing line, and appearing in commercials.

In 2002, as general manager of Team Canada, he led the national team to Olympic gold in Salt Lake City. From 2016 to 2021, he held an executive role with his first NHL team, the Edmonton Oilers.

Wayne Gretzky’s Personal Life

Gretzky met his future wife in his youth. He married actress Janet Jones, best known for her role in “Police Academy 5.”

Five years after meeting, the couple married. They have five children — three sons and two daughters.