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Gretzky, Wayne (1961- )

Canadian ice-hockey player, widely regarded as the best in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gretzky played with the Edmonton Oilers 1979-88, the Los Angeles Kings 1988-96, and the New York Rangers 1997-1999. He took just 11 years to break the NHL scoring record of 1,850 goals (accumulated by Gordie Howe over 26 years). By the time of his retirement in April 1999, he held or shared 61 NHL records, including most total goals, assists, and points, as well as most goals in a season (92), most assists in a season (163), and most points in a season (215).

Career highlights

National Hockey League

appearances: 1,693 (including 208 play-off games); goals: 1,016 (including 122 in play-off games); assists: 2,223 (including 260 in play-off games); points: 3,239 (including 382 in play-off games)

Stanley Cup

1984, 1985, 1987, 1988

Hart Memorial Trophy

NHL's most valuable player: 1980-87, 1989

Art Ross Trophy

most points in regular season: 1981-87, 1990-91, 1994

Conn Smythe Trophy

play-offs Most Valuable Player: 1991-92

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

(for sportsmanship) 1991-92, 1994

In February 1996, he joined the St Louis Blues, but moved on to the New York Rangers six months later. Almost universally regarded as ice hockey's greatest-ever player, he played his last game on 18 April 1999. Just three months after his retirement, he was inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame, becoming the tenth and final player to bypass the usual three-year wait for eligibility. He was known throughout his career as ‘The Great One’ and is the only player ever to have had his number, 99, officially retired across the whole league. In December 1999, the US magazine Sports Illustrated named him ‘Best Ice Hockey Player of the 20th Century’.

Born in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky played hockey from a very young age. He signed with the Edmonton Oilers 1979 at the age of 18.

A prolific goal scorer, he scored a record 215 points in the 1981-82 season. He went on to lead his team to the championship four times (1984-85, 1987-88) and in 1984 established the record of scoring or assisting in a score in 51 consecutive games. Traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, he continued to lead the league in goal points and assists during most seasons.

In December 2000, he became co-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, taking over as the team's head coach at the start of the 2005-06 season. He was the executive director of the Canadian men's hockey team for the 2002 and 2006 Olympics, winning the team's first gold medal in 50 years in Salt Lake City, but only reaching the quarter-finals four years later in Torino.

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