Wayne Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, and is a former legendary ice hockey player. Gretzky played in the NHL for a long time, from 1971-1999, and played for four NHL teams. He started his career with the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association before the merger of WHL and NHL in 1979.
His career with the Oilers was incredible and marked by immense success and Stanley trophies. He then joined the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 and continued his influence. Further, he played for the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers. Wayne played a total of 20 seasons in the NHL. Due to his impressive records, he was known as 'The Great One'. Wayne held 61 NHL records at the time of his retirement in 1999, some of which are still unbroken. It is stunning to know that Wayne Gretzky is the only player who scored 200 points in a single season and achieved this milestone four times.
Wayne Gretzky’s Introduction to the Hall of Fame
Wayne Gretzky was introduced to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000. Wayne wore the jersey number #99, which is retired by the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings separately. It was a big honor for Wayne by his former team and he will always be an ice hockey icon.
Some rumors surfaced across the internet about removing Wayne Gretzky from the Hall of Fame, which is not true. Gretzky is a legend for a reason and his achievements are countless. He has won the Hart Trophy nine times as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. Wayne secured the Art Ross Trophy ten times as the top scorer of the season. Moreover, he claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP in 1985 and 1988 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He was named for the Lester B. Pearson Award, now known as the Ted Lindsay Award, five times as the NHL's outstanding player. Los Angeles retired the jersey number #99 and built a big statue of him outside the Staples Center in 2002. Gretzky was named for the Ambassador Award of Excellence in 2010 by the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and also secured a place in one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.
Read more About:- Wayne Gretzky's records and milestones
Awards and Honors in Wayne Gretzky's Name
Gretzky's legacy is celebrated through special awards named after him in the NHL. The Wayne Gretzky 99 Award is given to the best-performing players in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. In addition to these trophies, the Wayne Gretzky Trophy is given yearly to the playoff champion in the OHL's Western Conference. Even the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association has an award named Wayne Gretzky. It is presented to three players annually respectively belonging to the EFHL, Elite, and Junior programs.
FAQ's On Wayne Gretzky Hockey Hall of Fame
A. Wayne Gretzky was introduced to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000.
A. Some rumors surfaced across the internet about removing Wayne Gretzky from the Hall of Fame but which is not true. He has not been removed from the Hall of Fame.
A. Wayne Gretzky has won countless trophies and achieved unbeatable records. He won the Hart Trophy 9 times, Art Ross Trophy ten times, Lady Byng Trophies five times, four Stanley Cups, and two Conn Smythe Trophies.
A. Wayne Gretzky is a legend in ice hockey. His legacy is celebrated through various awards named after his name.
