Personal:
Birth date: January 26, 1961Birth place: Brantford, Ontario, CanadaBirth name: Wayne Douglas GretzkyFather: Walter Gretzky, telephone technicianMother: Phyllis (Hockin) GretzkyMarriage: Janet Jones (July 16, 1988-present)Children: Emma, Tristan, Trevor, Ty, PaulinaOther Facts:
Nicknamed "The Great One."Only player to have his jersey number (No. 99) retired by the National Hockey League.Won four Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers (1984-1985, 1987-1988) and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy (NHL Playoff MVP) twice (1985 and 1988).Awarded the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) nine times (1980-1987, 1989).Won the Art Ross Trophy (NHL scoring title) 10 times (1981-1987, 1990-1991, 1994).Played in 18 NHL All-Star Games.Holds outright or shares 61 NHL records.Made a cameo on the soap opera, "The Young and the Restless," in 1981. Co-owner of the restaurant Wayne Gretzky's in downtown Toronto.Part-owner of Wayne Gretzky Estates wines from Ontario's Niagara region. Timeline:
1974 – At age 13, scores his 1,000th lifetime goal, in an exhibition hockey game.1978 – At the World Junior Championship, leads the tournament with 17 points (eight goals and nine assists). June 1978 – Turns professional, signing with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association.November 2, 1978 – Gretzky's contract is sold to the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are one of four World Hockey Association teams to join the National Hockey League in 1979. October 14, 1979 – Scores his first NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks.February 24, 1982 – Scores his 77th goal to break Phil Esposito's single season scoring record. Gretzky ends the season with 92 goals, which remains an NHL record.1983-1984 – Scores at least one point in 51 consecutive games. Gretzky's record of the longest consecutive point scoring streak remains active in the NHL.August 28-September 15, 1987 – Scores 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in Team Canada's victory in the Canada Cup. The best-of-three finals between the USSR and Canada are "considered by many to be the best exhibition of hockey in history."August 9, 1988 – His trade to the Los Angeles Kings is announced.May 13, 1989 – Hosts "Saturday Night Live."October 15, 1989 – Surpasses Gordie Howe to become the NHL's all-time leading scorer, with points 1850 and 1851.October 26, 1990 – Earns his 2,000th career point, the only NHL player to reach that landmark.March 23, 1994 – Scores his 802nd goal, passing Gordie Howe as the all-time leading goal scorer.February 27, 1996 – Traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the St. Louis Blues.July 21, 1996 – Signs with the New York Rangers as an unrestricted free agent.April 18, 1999 – Retires following the Rangers' 2-1 loss in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gretzky played 20 seasons in the NHL, and a total of 21 seasons professionally.October 1, 1999 – Gretzky's jersey, number 99, is formally retired league-wide.November 22, 1999 – Inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame, after the three year waiting period is waived.June 2, 2000 – Announced as the managing partner of the Phoenix Coyotes. Gretzky officially begins his position on February 15, 2001, when the sale of the Coyotes is completed, and also becomes a minority owner.2002 – Establishes the Wayne Gretzky Foundation to connect underprivileged youth with hockey.February 2002 – The Canadian men's hockey team, for which Gretzky is the executive director, wins gold at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 50 years. 2005-2009 – Head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.October 2016 – Becomes partner and vice chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group, which owns the Edmonton Oilers.
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