GRETZKY, WAYNE

born Jan. 26, 1961, Brantford, Ont., Can. in full Wayne Douglas Gretzky Canadian ice-hockey player who was considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gretzky began skating at age two and a half and was first taught hockey by his father. By age 6 he was playing as an all-star in novice hockey with boys 10 and 11 years old. He progressed through organized age-group hockey, and in 1977 at the Junior World Cup competition, he was the youngest player and the leading scorer. Gretzky turned professional for the 197879 season, playing for the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). His contract soon was sold to the Edmonton Oilers, who joined the NHL at the beginning of the 197980 season. As centre and team captain, Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories (in the 198384, 198485, 198687, and 198788 seasons). Following the 198788 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky's finesse and speed revolutionized the sport, which had been known for its physical play. In his first season with the Oilers, he scored 51 goals and 86 assists (137 total points). In the 198081 season he became the first player in NHL history to average more than two points a game. In the 198182 season he set NHL regular-season scoring records for goals (92), assists (120), and total points (212). (He broke the latter two records in the 198586 season with 163 assists and 215 total points.) Gretzky won the Art Ross Memorial Trophy (leading NHL scorer) for seven consecutive years, from the 198081 to the 198687 season, and won it again in 198990, 199091, and 199394. He was the first player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the most valuable player each season, for eight consecutive years (from the 197980 through the 198687 season), and he received it again in 198889. Early in the 198990 season Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's NHL all-time scoring record of 1,850 points (the total number of goals and assists), and late in the 199394 season he broke Howe's record for career goals (801). In 1996 Gretzky was traded by the Los Angeles Kings to the St. Louis Blues. Later that year he signed with the New York Rangers. With his 1,851st assist, scored in a 1997 game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Gretzky broke yet another record, scoring more assists than any player had scored points in an NHL career. Gretzky retired from professional play after the 199899 season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999. His career totals include 2,857 points and 894 goals. The NHL retired his jersey number (99) after his final game.