Wayne Gretzky

Former NHL player and Sports Speaker, “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky is regarded as the best hockey player in the history of the NHL.

When he retired in 1999, he was the holder of forty regular season records, fifteen playoff records and six all-star records. Wayne is the leading point scorer in the NHL and the only player to total over 200 points in one season. In 16 professional seasons, he had over 100 points and 14 of them were consecutive. Wayne’s #99 jersey was retired by all teams in the NHL and was voted one of six players to the IIHF.

Wayne started playing hockey in his backyard rink in Brantford, Ontario and had skill high above most of this teammates playing minor hockey. Although he wasn’t known for his stature, strength and speed, his intelligence and ability to read the game were unparalleled. Wayne could dodge checks and anticipate where the puck was going to be and perform the correct move. His skill behind the net came to be known as “Gretzky’s office.”

Before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association in 1978, when the Oilers joined the NHL. While at the Oilers, he set many records and led the team to four Stanley Cup championships. In 1988 Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, and in 1993 he led them to a Stanley Cup Finals. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and finished his career as a New York Ranger. Throughout his career, Wayne brought home nine Hart Trophies, then Art Ross Trophies, five Lady Byng Trophies, five Lester B. Pearson Awards and two Conn Smythe Trophies.

Immediately after his retirement in 1999, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and is the most recent hockey player to have the waiting period waived. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, he was named Executive Director for the Canadian national men’s team, where they won a gold medal and in 2000 he became part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Sports Speaker Wayne owns Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant in Toronto with an upscale dining room furnished with his personal collection of memorabilia. He has also made over sixty movies, network television and video appearances as himself. Wayne Gretzky is available for sports clinics, sporting events, and speaking engagements.