Who is Wayne Gretzky?
WAYNE Gretzky is a world-renowned former hockey player known for his absolute dominance over the sport.
Here's everything we know about the living legend.
Who is Wayne Gretzky?
Born on January 26, 1961, Wayne Gretzky grew up in Ontario with his mother, Phyllis, and father, Walter.
Walter Gretzky was an avid hockey player as a youth and a well-known analyst of the sport.
At the age of two, Wayne began to follow in his father's footsteps and ice skate.
By the age of six, he was playing on a hockey team amongst 10-year-olds.
Wayne went on to join the Brantford Nadrofsky Steelers, and in just one season with the team, he scored 378 goals.
In 1974, he scored 26 points in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
Most read in Sport
Following Wayne's 14th birthday, his family moved him to Toronto to further his hockey career.
He soon after joined the Toronto Nationals, playing on the same team as men in their 20s.
Teams within the World Hockey Association (WHA) began to reach out to Wayne as he neared 17.
On June 12, 1978, Wayne was signed to the Indianapolis Racers for a seven-year contract worth $1.75million.
After only eight games with Indiana, Wayne was sold to the Edmonton Oilers.
When the WHA ended in 1979, the Oilers - and Wayne - joined the National Hockey League (NHL).
How long did Wayne Gretzky play in the NHL?
Wayne Gretzky played with the NHL for twenty years, starting in 1979.
Known for his nickname "The Great One," Wayne is renowned as the leading goal scorer, point scorer, and assist producer in league history.
On more than one occasion, Wayne scored over 200 points during one season and remains the only NHL player to ever do so.
After spending time with the Oilers, Wayne was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988.
Wayne remained with the Kings until joining the St. Louis Blues in 1996.
The same year, Wayne moved on to the New York Rangers, where he remained until his retirement in 1999.
Throughout his career, Wayne won a plethora of awards, including:
- 9 Hart Trophies as MVP
- 10 Art Ross Trophies for Most Points in a Season
- 2 Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP
- 5 Lester B. Pearson Awards for Most Outstanding Player
- 5 Lady Byng Memorial Trophies for Sportsmanship and Performance
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, and the NHL retired number 99 - his jersey number - league-wide.
Wayne went on to serve as executive director for the Men's Canadian national hockey team in the 2002 Winter Olympics, winning the gold medal.
In 2004, Wayne was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
The all-star hockey player became part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2000, working as their head coach from the 2005 NHL lockout until 2009.
In October of 2016, Wayne became a partner and vice-chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group.
What is Wayne Gretzky's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Wayne Gretzky has an estimated net worth of around $250million.
Aside from playing hockey, Wayne earned a plethora of endorsement deals, including Coca-Cola, Domino's Pizza, Sharp Corporation, and Upper Deck Company.
He opened a winery and distillery in 2017, and owns multiple restaurants including No. 99 Gretzky's Wine & Whiskey and Studio 99 at Rogers Place.
Wayne has also appeared across television, as both a celebrity judge on Dance Fever and a cast member on The Young and the Restless.
He went on to host Saturday Night Live in 1989 and made a cameo on The Simpsons in 2016.
The 61-year-old is also the author of several books, including Gretzky: An Autobiography, 99: My Life in Pictures, and 99: Stories of the Game.
Is Wayne Gretzky married?
Wayne met his wife, actress Janet Jones, while working on Dance Fever.
Read More on The US Sun
The two began dating in 1987 and were married in an ornate ceremony on July 16, 1988.
Together, Wayne and Janet have five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS