(Source- Dontgiveupworld)
“I knew at a young age, whether I was playing baseball or hockey or lacrosse, that my teammates were counting on me, whether it be to strike the last batter out in a baseball game or score a big goal in a hockey game.”
– Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky, popularly nicknamed ‘the Great One’, is a renowned ice hockey player, and was regarded as the greatest hockey player ever. Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, he played twenty seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999 and retired at the age of 38. Through this article, we will learn more about Wayne’s life beyond ice hockey.
Early Life of Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, into the family of Phyllis Leone and Walter Gretzky. Wayne’s father played a significant role in his early development as a hockey player. Walter built a backyard rink for Wayne and his siblings to practice on, which became the birthplace of his skating skills. At just 6 years old, he was already a star player in novice hockey, even competing with boys aged 10 and 11. He continued to improve and play in organized leagues for his age group. In 1977, at the Junior World Cup competition, he amazed everyone by being the youngest player and scoring the most goals.
In 1978, at the age of 17, Wayne made history by becoming the youngest player ever in professional hockey when he joined the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). This marked the beginning of his remarkable career in the sport. After the WHA disbanded, the Oilers joined the NHL. That’s when Wayne really shined, setting many scoring records and guiding his team to win the Stanley Cup four times.
Then, on August 9, 1988, he got traded to the Los Angeles Kings. It made a huge difference for the team, and they ended up making it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993. Wayne’s efforts also popularized hockey in California.
After retiring in 1999, Wayne was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also chosen as one of six players for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Centennial All-Star Team.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, he became the executive director for the Canadian national men’s hockey team and helped them win a gold medal.
In 2000, he became part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes and later became their head coach after the NHL lock-out in 2004-05. He was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Awards and Recognitions of Wayne Gretzky
| Awards | Year |
| Lou Kaplan Trophy (WHA Rookie of the Year) | 1979 |
| Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player) | 1980–87, 1989 |
| Art Ross Trophy (Scoring Champion) | 1981–87, 1990, 1991, 1994 |
| Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff Most Valuable Player) | 1985, 1988 |
| Lester B. Pearson Award (Outstanding Player, voted by the players) | 1982–85, 1987 |
| NHL Goal Scoring Leader (now the Maurice Richard Trophy) | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, |
| Stanley Cup | 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 |
| Canada Cup | 1984, 1987, 1991 |
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Western Conference Champions) | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1993 |
| Chrysler-Dodge/NHL Performer of the Year | 1985–87 |
| Lester Patrick Trophy (outstanding service to hockey in the United States) | 1994 |
| Lou Marsh Trophy (Canadian athlete of the year) | 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989 |
| Lionel Conacher Award (Canadian male athlete of the year) | 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1999 |
| NHL All-Star Game MVP | 1983, 1989, 1999 |
| Olympic Gold – Hockey (as Executive Director-Manager) | 2002 |
| World Cup of Hockey (as Executive Director-Manager) | 2004 |
Career Achievements with Timeline
1974
At the age of thirteen in an exhibition hockey game, Wayne scored his 1000th lifetime goal.
1978
- Wayne leads the World Junior Championship tournament with 17 points.
- Signs Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association.
- His contract is sold to the Edmonton Oilers.
1979
Wayne scores his first NHL goal, against the Vancouver Canucks.
1982
Wayne scores his 77th goal to break Phil Esposito’s single-season scoring record. He ends the season with 92 goals, which remains an NHL record.
1983-1984
He scores at least one point in 51 consecutive games. His record of the longest consecutive point-scoring streak remains active in the NHL.
1987
Wayne scores 21 points (three goals and 18 assists) in Team Canada’s victory against the USSR in the best-of-three finals for the Canada Cup. The final is still “considered by many to be the best exhibition of hockey in history.”
1989
He surpasses Gordie Howe to become the NHL’s all-time leading point scorer, with points 1,850 and 1,851.
1990
He earns his 2,000th career point, the only NHL player to reach that landmark.
1994
He Scores his 802nd goal, passing Howe as the all-time leading goal scorer.
Other Business Ventures of Wayne Gretzky
Wayne’s net worth is said to be around 250 million dollars. He has earned a lot in his legendary career with the NHL. After retirement, he has ventured into several business opportunities which are listed below.
1. Gretzky Estates Winery and Distillery
Wayne owns and operates the Gretzky Estates Winery and Distillery, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. This venture allows him to step into the world of wine, spirits, and beer, bringing his passion for excellence and dedication to craftsmanship to the world of fine beverages.
2. Restaurants
He has also ventured into the restaurant industry. One example is Wayne Gretzky’s, a restaurant located in downtown Toronto. It was a popular spot for hockey fans and offered a unique dining experience, but it was closed in recent years.
3. Endorsements
Throughout his career, Gretzky has landed numerous endorsement deals with top brands, such as Domino’s Pizza and Coca-Cola. These endorsements have contributed to his business empire and financial success.
4. Investments
Wayne Gretzky has invested in OxeFit, a fitness technology company, as part of their Series A – III on July 28, 2022.
5. Sportswear Line and NFT Partnership
In recent years, Wayne has expanded his business ventures to include a sportswear line called Greatness Wins and a partnership with eBay as the featured athlete in their first collection of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Interesting Facts About Wayne Gretzky
- At the age of ten, Wayne scored an astounding 378 goals in the finals year of Pee Wee hockey, despite his lack of size and strength.
- Wayne Gretzky has won eight straight Hart Trophies in the 1980s.
- Wayne made history during the 1981-82 season when he became the first player to score 50 goals in less than 50 games. He achieved this incredible feat in only 39 games.
- Wayne wanted to wear the number 9 to honor his favorite player Gordie Howe, but it was already taken. Hence, he ended up picking number 99 and started wearing it at the age of 16.
- Wayne had his number 99 retired by the entire league at the 2000 All-Star Game. This was a special recognition for his incredible contributions to the sport of hockey.
- To honor his incredible career, the Hockey Hall of Fame created a special collection of Gretzky’s memorabilia. It was a big exhibition that covered an area of 2300 square feet. Some of the items included in the collection were the skates he wore in his final game and the goal he scored his 802nd goal.
Wayne Gretzky is marked his name in the world of ice hockey. His lifestyle and career achievements are motivation for not only his fans but for every person. Even today, he continues to inspire people with his memorable achievements and legacy.
- Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo: A Journey Beyond Football
