When people think about Canada, they think about hockey. Canada has had many great hockey players over the years and still does.
Wayne Gretzky – #99
Wayne Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario, on January 26, 1961. Wayne began skating at the early age of 2. He loved the game of hockey and spent many hours on the ice, skating and practising his skills. Wayne was such a great hockey player; he was often recruited to play in hockey leagues with much older boys. Wayne scored 378 goals in his last year of peewee hockey. Wayne’s spectacular hockey skills were noticed across Canada.
Major Hockey Leagues
During the 1977 Ontario Major Junior Hockey League Midget Draft, Wayne was selected third. He played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. In 1978, during the World Junior Championships in Quebec City, Wayne was the highest-scoring hockey player during the tournament.
Gretzky in the NHL
Wayne began his first National Hockey League (NHL) season in 1979, playing for the Edmonton Oilers. That season Wayne won the MVP Hart Memorial Trophy as he scored 51 goals and had 86 assists. Wayne was the first-ever player to receive this award during the first year of play in the NHL.
Gretzky Breaks NHL Records
Wayne broke several NHL records, beginning in 1982 when he broke the 200-point barrier, with 92 goals and 120 assists, setting a single-season record. In 1986, Wayne scored 52 goals and 163 assists, breaking another NHL single-season record.
Gretzky Traded to Los Angeles
Wayne was traded to Los Angeles in 1988. Wayne played for the LA Kings for eight seasons and still held the Nickname “The Great One” in the NHL. He was then traded to the St.Lous Blues for one season and then traded to the New York Rangers for three years until he retired in 1999. Wayne was inducted into the hockey hall of fame after his retirement.