Wayne's brothers Brent and Keith both had short-lived professional careers in hockey and his son, Trevor, was an impressive high school football quarterback who played on the same team as the sons of Will Smith and Joe Montana. Gretzky was one of six players voted to the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team. Emma Gretzky Family. It most recently sold for US$2.8 million. [207], Gretzky served as an ambassador to Vancouver's successful bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics,[208] and was named Special Advisor to Canada's men's hockey team at the Games. [188] In May 2000, he agreed to buy a 10% stake in the Phoenix Coyotes in a partnership with majority owner Steve Ellman, taking on the roles of alternate governor, managing partner and head of hockey operations. The NHL also lowered its minimum age, ensuring players such as Gretzky would not need to return to the junior level, albeit with the caveat that such previously underaged players were supposed to be placed into the 1979 NHL Entry Draft pool. [16] On the backyard rink, nicknamed the "Wally Coliseum", winter was total hockey immersion with Walter as mentor-teacher as well as teammate. They all wanted to play like Gretzky. [199], In 2006, Moyes became majority owner of the team. [15] Drills included skating around Javex bleach bottles and tin cans, and flipping pucks over scattered hockey sticks to be able to pick up the puck again in full flight. [129] In the deciding game three, Gretzky and Lemieux once again combined for the game-winner. "If a guy ran him, Wayne would embarrass that guy", said former Oiler Lee Fogolin. Dan Robson. Walter's drills were his own invention, and were ahead of their time in Canada. The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card that recently sold for $3.75 million is the same version of the card that sold for $1.29 million this past December. Gretzky led the tournament for the fourth and final time with 12 points in seven games. Using this approach, the Oilers, led by Gretzky, became the highest-scoring team in NHL history. [40] The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers, who put Gretzky on a line with his boyhood idol Gordie Howe and Howe's son, Mark. Advertisement. Seven months later, Gretzky joined Team Canada for the 1982 World Championships in Finland. "[148], Commentators have noted Gretzky's uncanny ability to judge the position of the other players on the iceso much so that many suspected he enjoyed some kind of extrasensory perception. [115], In 1997, prior to his retirement, The Hockey News named a committee of 50hockey experts (former NHL players, past and present writers, broadcasters, coaches and hockey executives) to select and rank the 50greatest players in NHL history. "[80], In this, Gretzky added his considerable influence as the preeminent NHL star of his day to that of the Soviets, who had also developed a more team-style of play, and had successfully used it against the best NHL teams, beginning in the 1972 Summit Series. He was also considered one of the most creative players in hockey. [206] He was asked to manage Canada's team at the 2005 Ice Hockey World Championships, but declined due to his mother's poor health. lives with his family in . [166], According to Gretzky, lacrosse was where he learned to protect himself from hard checks: "In those days you could be hit from behind in lacrosse, as well as cross-checked, so you had to learn how to roll body checks for self-protection. Here are just 14 things the family hopes remains on the DL so as not to tarnish the Gretzky family name. [192], In 2005, rumours began circulating that Gretzky was about to name himself head coach of the Coyotes, but were denied by Gretzky and the team. Gretzky did not attend the Coyotes' training camp, leaving associate head coach Ulf Samuelsson in charge, due to an uncertain contractual status with the club, whose bankruptcy hearings were continuing. He distorts time, and not only by slowing it down. He earned Rookie of the Year honours in the Metro Junior B Hockey League in 197576, with 60points in 28games. [48][49], Gretzky's success in the WHA carried over into the NHL, despite some critics suggesting he would struggle in what was considered the bigger, tougher and more talented league. Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones' almost all big family captioned in one snap as they mark their 33rd wedding anniversary. He made an immediate impact on the ice, scoring on his first shot on goal in the first regular season game. Born in Brantford, Ontario in 1961, Wayne Gretzky learned to skate on a rink his father Walter built in the family's backyard. Growing up, he was a competitive runner and also batted .492 for the Junior Intercounty Baseball League's Brantford CKCP Braves in the summer of 1980. 9. While they were using all this energy trying to rattle his teeth, he was just skating away, circling, analyzing things."[140]. [67] The Oilers were a young, strong team featuring, in addition to Gretzky, future Hall of Famers including forwards Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri; defenceman Paul Coffey; and goaltender Grant Fuhr. On 26-1-1961 Wayne Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario. [259][260][261][262] Gretzky has other restaurants opened in 2016 at the Edmonton International Airport and named No. Then he'd come back and say, "Now, this is how the smart player does it." [239] Gretzky eventually sold the team in 1992 for C$550,000. In his active years, he played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1979 to 1999 for 4 teams. 10 Canadians Who Became Americans", "Paulina Gretzky Engaged To PGA Star Dustin Johnson", "The Front Row With Bruce Bourquin: June 13, 2014", "Al Gretzky enters London West by-election race", "London West breaks Liberal stronghold as NDP win projected", "Walter Gretzky, father of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, dies at 82", "Rocket Men: The far-out (but true) story of the '91 Argos", "Toronto Argonauts sold for $4.7 million", "Gretzky, Candy to get names etched on Grey Cup", "Honus Wagner card sells for record $2.8M", "Gretzky A Great One Among Thoroughbred Owners, Too", "Gretzky will work closer with Hespeler Hockey", "Gretzky Ranks Among Elite In Arena of Endorsements", "Hockey Great Wayne Gretzky and First Team Sports Partner in Hockey Equipment Company", "Wayne Gretzky Takes the Ice With 989 Sports for Signature Hockey Franchise", "Wayne Gretzky's Toronto Celebrates 25 Years of Greatness", "Meet the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors", "55 shades of Great: Random facts about Wayne Gretzky on his 55th birthday", "Last call at Wayne Gretzky's sports bar in Toronto after 27 years", "Wayne Gretzky to open restaurant at Edmonton International Airport", "Nick Lees: Don Metz in spotlight as Wayne Gretzky opens new restaurant in Rogers Place", "Release: Studio 99 opens in Rogers Place October 18", "Gretzky: An Autobiography By Wayne Gretzky with Rick Reilly (HarperCollins: $19.95; 258 pp. [22] In the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, Gretzky scored 26 points playing for Brantford. That's what made him such a phenomenal player. Wayne Gretzky, in full Wayne Douglas Gretzky, byname the Great One, (born January 26, 1961, Brantford, Ontario, Canada), Canadian ice hockey player who was considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the Great One",[1] he has been called the greatest hockey player ever by many sportswriters, players, The Hockey News, and by the NHL itself,[2] based on extensive surveys of hockey writers, ex-players, general managers and coaches. [54] The Calder was instead awarded to Boston Bruins defenceman Ray Bourque. 99 Gretzky's Wine & Whisky,[263] and in 2018 called Studio 99 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. [151] He cultivated a love of hockey in his sons and provided them with a backyard rink and drills to enhance their skills. (Nathan Denette/AP) Article. Every time he took the ice, there was some spontaneous decision he would make. "[271] As a non-resident, Gretzky came under some criticism for this endorsement. The men including Wayne, two of his sons Trevor and Ty, and his grandchildren Tatum and River, who belong to Paulina stood . In this article, we'll take a look at 18 photos the Gretzky family doesn't want us to see. Gretzky was named to the club on November 29, 1997. The Edmonton alumni won the Megastars game 20,[215] while Montreal went on to win the regular season game held later that day, 43. Him: "Which way?" [223], Gretzky is a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States, having become a naturalized citizen of the latter. [104], On February 27, 1996, Gretzky joined the St. Louis Blues in a trade for Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson and two draft picks (Peter Hogan and Matt Zultek). "Gretzky uses this room to insert an extra beat into his actions. After she said, "Yes," a banner flew by that read . At age ten, after scoring 196 goals in his hockey league, he scored 158 goals in lacrosse. [24] His play attracted considerable negative attention from other players' parents, including those of his teammates, and he was often booed. "[81], Between 1982 and 1985, the Edmonton Oilers averaged 423 goals a season, when no previous team had scored 400, and Gretzky on his own had averaged 207 points, when no player before had scored more than 152 in one year. [32] While in the air, Skalbania worked on the deal. Wayne Gretzky, a former Canadian ice hockey player known as "The Great One," has a daughter named Emma. The Gretzkys made an arrangement with a local family they knew and Wayne played for the Greyhounds, at age 16. March 5, 2021 at 12:02 p.m. EST. Wayne has five children with his wife of over 30 years, actor Janet Jones: 32-year-old Paulina, 30-year-old Ty, 28-year-old Trevor, 20-year-old Tristan, and 18-year . "Gretzky reversed that. Dryden wrote in his book The Game, "In the past, defenders and teams had learned to devise strategies to stop opponents with the puck. "[157], When he entered the league in 1979, critics opined that Gretzky was "too small, too wiry, and too slow to be a force in the [NHL]. Under the agreement, the WHA agreed to fold after the 1979 season with the Oilers and three other teams (the Hartford (New England) Whalers, the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets) joining the older league as expansion franchises. [278] Gretzky was named the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1985 and 1988, receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy. [133][134] Team Canada then lost the bronze medal game 32 to Finland to finish without a medal. The Oilers, like the other three teams, were to be allowed to protect two goaltenders and two skaters from being reclaimed by the established NHL teams in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft. [182], In 2002, the Kings held a jersey retirement ceremony and erected a life-sized statue of Gretzky outside the Staples Center; the ceremony was delayed until then so that Bruce McNall, who had recently finished a prison sentence, could attend. After Wayne's birth, the family moved to a house in Varadi Avenue in Brantford. His mother was of English, and some Cornish and Irish, descent. As of March 2023, Wayne Gretzky's net worth is estimated to be roughly $250 Million. The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. By the final round it was Wayne Gretzky who assumed the leadership both on and off the ice. [160] In his second year in the league, weighing just 165 pounds, he broke the previous single-season scoring record, racking up 164 points. In addition, Gretzky tallied over 100points in 16 professional seasons, 14 of them consecutive. The 33-year-old daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky posed for a photo with one of her pals during her recent getaway, and rocked a pair of form-fitting SKIMS shapewear for the snapshot. [70] He was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2009 "for his continued contributions to the world of hockey, notably as one of the best players of all time, as well as for his social engagement as a philanthropist, volunteer and role model for countless young people". Winding up for the slapshot, he will stop for an almost imperceptible moment at the top of his arc, like a golfer with a rhythmic swing." The Gretzky Family (Instagram) Similarly, Trevor Douglas was born the third child and second son on 1992 September 14, 14. [251][252] The video game brand EA Sports included Gretzky in its 2010 title NHL Slapshot,[253] and he had previously been an endorser for the 989 Sports games Gretzky NHL 2005 and Gretzky NHL 2006. I saw him do it night after night. Gretzky was its captain from 1983 to 1988. The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen partly because its yard was flat . 18. . Posted . Tatum . He used to stand on the blue line and say to me, "Watch, this is how everybody else does it." [51] In the first game of the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, against the Montreal Canadiens, Gretzky had five assists, a single game playoff record. Wayne Gretzky: Family and Education. [211], Although Gretzky had previously stated he would not participate in any "old-timers exhibition games",[212] on November 22, 2003, he took to the ice to help celebrate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary as an NHL team. [35] The money was not enough to keep the Racers alive; they folded that December. He said that many of his advantages were a result of his father's brilliant coaching. Walter Gretzky father of hockey hall-of-famer Wayne Gretzky waves to fans as the Buffalo Sabres play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto on Tuesday, January 17, 2017. The athlete gene is certainly present in the Gretzky family. [25] According to Walter, the "capper" was being booed on "Brantford Day" at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens in February 1975. Ultimately, it was Racers owner Nelson Skalbania who, on June 12, 1978, signed 17-year-old Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth US$1.75million. 224. [16] Wayne was a classic prodigy whose extraordinary skills made him the target of jealous parents. [202] The Coyotes' performance declined in 200607, as the team ended the season 15th in their conference. His first taste of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) action had actually come a . [144], He also had strong general athletic skills. I didn't desert my country. Slowly, as game after game went by and the concern continued to rise, Wayne Gretzky began climbing through the line-up. As you . Wayne Gretzky Family. [50], In his first NHL season, 197980, Gretzky was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player (the first of eight in a row) and tied for the scoring lead with Marcel Dionne with 137points. The event reportedly cost Gretzky over US$1million. Phyllis Gretzky died of lung cancer on December 19. A family portrait of Wayne and Janet with kids Trevor, Paulina and Ty in 1997. . "That's a hundred percent right. He scored 37points in 31games for the team in the regular season and the playoffs,[64] and the Blues came within one game of the Conference Finals. Me: "To where the puck is going, not where it's been." Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky) Instagram photo. [254][255] Gretzky also made an appearance on the music video for Nickelback's "Rockstar". Gretzky clung to life for 21 days, with his family sitting with him, similar to how he fought after numerous other debilitating health complications over the years. [233] Trevor is a former minor league baseball player. [177] The Hall of Fame then announced that he would be the last player to do so. Me: "Peel." [205], Gretzky again acted as executive director of Canada's men's hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, though not with the success of 2002; the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals and failed to win a medal. "Wayne Gretzky was one of the most accurate scorers in NHL history", said one biography. Walter Gretzky, CM, OOnt (October 8, 1938 - March 4, 2021) was a Canadian philanthropist who was best known as the father of Canadian ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky.. An avid hockey player as a youth, and a keen analyst of the game, he built a backyard rink for his children, and coached Wayne continually from the age of three, devising creative exercises and drills, and teaching him profound . [219] In 1984, he travelled to the Soviet Union to film a television program on Russian goaltender Vladislav Tretiak. He left behind his five adult children and 13 grandchildren. [285] The Edmonton Minor Hockey Association also has an award named for Gretzky. Five years later, the tournament was revived and renamed the World Cup in 1996. [210] Due to BC Place being an indoor stadium, and Olympic protocols stating that the lighting of the cauldron should be visible to the public, Gretzky was then escorted out of the stadium to light a second, outdoor cauldron outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, making him the de facto final torchbearer. The Oilers went on to win their fifth Cup (and first without Gretzky). I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. [118] Following the contest, in a departure from the usual three stars announcement, Gretzky was awarded all three stars. WAYNE GRETZKY AND JANET JONES' CHILDREN. The Canadians had trouble with the big ice. He'd shoot it into the corner again, only this time he cut across to the other side and picked it up over there. "[153], Gretzky also credits his coach at the Edmonton Oilers, Glen ("Slats") Sather, as an important influence in his development as a hockey player. Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mourners wore masks at the service, which was limited . Walter Gretzky, father of Wayne Gretzky, waving at a 2017 hockey game in Toronto. [85] Walter Gretzky had known for months after having been tipped off by Skalbania, but kept the news from Wayne so as not to upset him. "I do! Football wasn't even Trevor's best sport either - that . [29] It was with the Greyhounds that Gretzky first wore the number99 on his jersey. [194] Gretzky made his coaching debut on October 5,[195] and won his first game, on October 8 against the Minnesota Wild. [132] The game went to a shootout with a 11 tie after overtime, but Gretzky was controversially not selected by coach Marc Crawford as one of the five shooters, all of whom failed to score. [71] Five times between 198182 and 198687, Gretzky led the NHL in goals scored. "[149] Gretzky said he sensed other players more than he actually saw them. [9] Gretzky became executive director for the Canadian national men's hockey team during the 2002 Winter Olympics, in which the team won a gold medal. His mom, Phyllis Gretzky, was born October 14, 1941 and passed away on December 19, 2005. Gretzky told journalist Scott Morrison that the final game of his career was his greatest day. The Gretzky home at 42 Viradi Ave., in Brantford, has become something of a national shrine . [105] At the time of the trade, the Blues and New York Rangers emerged as front-runners, but the Blues met his salary demands. It's anticipation. [101] After the financially troubled McNall was forced to sell the Kings in 1994, Gretzky's relationship with the Kings' new owners grew strained. [187], Almost immediately after retirement, several NHL teams approached Gretzky about an ownership role. [144] Because he was so light compared to other players, goalies were often surprised by how hard Gretzky's shot was. Former NHL star Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet have listed their Colonial-style mansion for $22.9 million. In 2004, Gretzky was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. [189] The sale was not completed until the following year, on February 15, 2001, after two missed deadlines while securing financing and partners before Ellman and Gretzky could take over.