Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time and is often referred to as “The Great One.”
Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He began playing hockey at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being selected by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League. In 1979, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers and quickly established himself as one of the league’s top players.
Over the course of his 20-year career, Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. He won four Stanley Cups, nine Hart Trophies as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, ten Art Ross Trophies as the league’s top scorer, and many other awards and accolades.
Gretzky retired in 1999 as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, with 894 goals and 1,963 assists in 1,487 regular season games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and continues to be celebrated for his incredible skill and achievements on the ice.
After retiring from playing, Gretzky has served as a coach and executive in the NHL, and remains an influential and beloved figure in the hockey world.
Quotes About Wayne Gretzky
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky himself.
“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” – Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky
“He was not just a scorer. He was not just a playmaker. He was not just a winner. He was all of that and more.” – Bob McKenzie, Hockey Insider
“Wayne Gretzky is the greatest player I have ever seen.” – Bobby Orr, Hockey Legend
“He was a magician. He was like Mozart or Beethoven in his ability to create things.” – Mario Lemieux, Hockey Legend
“I think the biggest thing that people don’t understand about Wayne Gretzky is how smart he was.” – Mark Messier, Former NHL Player and teammate of Gretzky