53 Facts About Wayne Gretzky

1. Wayne Gretzky was named the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1985 and 1988, receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy.

2. Wayne Gretzky won a record nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player in the NHL.

3. Wayne Gretzky is currently unable to vote in Canadian elections as he does not live in the country.

4. In 2014, Wayne Gretzky praised Harper at a United for Ukraine Gala event in Toronto calling him "one of the greatest prime ministers ever".

5. Wayne Gretzky made an appearance on the music video for Nickelback's "Rockstar".

6. Wayne Gretzky was a board member and executive officer of the Hespeler Hockey Company.

7. Wayne Gretzky has owned or partnered in the ownership of two sports teams before becoming a partner in the Phoenix Coyotes.

8. Wayne Gretzky proposed in January 1988, and they were married on July 16, 1988 in a lavish ceremony the Canadian press dubbed "The Royal Wedding".

9. In December 2016, Wayne Gretzky appeared briefly in a cameo on a Christmas episode of The Simpsons as a winter character.

10. Wayne Gretzky hosted the Saturday Night Live comedy program in 1989.

11. Wayne Gretzky has made several TV appearances, including as a Dance Fever celebrity judge, and an 'unforgettable appearance', acting in a dramatic role alongside Victor Newman in The Young and the Restless in 1981.

12. Wayne Gretzky will work closely with owner Daryl Katz and Oilers Entertainment Group CEO Bob Nicholson on the business side of the Oilers' operation.

13. Wayne Gretzky was one of four who lit the cauldron at BC Place Stadium during the opening ceremony and then jogged out of the stadium, where he was then driven by police escorts through the streets of downtown Vancouver to light a second, outdoor cauldron near the Vancouver Convention Centre located in the city's downtown waterfront district.

14. Wayne Gretzky was the final Olympic torchbearer at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

15. Wayne Gretzky went to Prague, Czech Republic and was part of the presentation team.

16. Wayne Gretzky served as an ambassador and contributor in Vancouver winning the bidding process to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

17. Wayne Gretzky addressed those comments by saying he spoke out to protect the Canadian players, and the tirade was not "staged".

18. Wayne Gretzky was Executive Director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

19. In 2005, rumours began circulating that Wayne Gretzky was about to name himself head coach of the Coyotes, but were denied by Gretzky and the team.

20. Wayne Gretzky convinced his long-time agent Michael Barnett to join the team as its General Manager.

21. Wayne Gretzky was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.

22. Wayne Gretzky was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 22, 1999, becoming the tenth player to bypass the three-year waiting period.

23. Wayne Gretzky played for 10 years with the Oilers, with Sather as coach.

24. Wayne Gretzky used to stand on the blue line and say to me, "Watch, this is how everybody else does it.

25. Wayne Gretzky consistently scored last in strength tests among the Edmonton Oilers, bench pressing only 140 pounds.

26. Wayne Gretzky weighed "about 170 pounds" for the better part of his career.

27. Wayne Gretzky was named to the club on November 29, 1997.

28. Wayne Gretzky led the tournament in scoring for the second consecutive time and was named to the All-Star Team.

29. Wayne Gretzky notched 14 points in 10 games, including a two-goal, two-assist effort in Canada's final game against Sweden to earn the bronze.

30. Wayne Gretzky debuted with the Team Canada's men's team at the 1981 Canada Cup.

31. Wayne Gretzky went on to lead the tournament in scoring with 17 points to earn All-Star Team and Best Forward honours.

32. Wayne Gretzky made his first international appearance as a member of the Canadian national junior team at the 1978 World Junior Championships in Montreal, Quebec.

33. Wayne Gretzky told journalist Scott Morrison that the final game of his career was his greatest day.

34. At the time of his retirement, Wayne Gretzky was the second-to-last WHA player still active in professional hockey.

35. Wayne Gretzky ended his career with a final point, assisting on the lone New York goal scored by Brian Leetch.

36. Wayne Gretzky said he would have voted Bobby Orr or Gordie Howe as the best of all time.

37. Wayne Gretzky ended his professional playing career with the New York Rangers, where he played his final three seasons and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997.

38. On February 27, 1996, Wayne Gretzky joined the St Louis Blues in a trade for Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson and two draft picks.

39. Wayne Gretzky was nervous Edmonton would greet him with boos, but they were eagerly waiting for him.

40. Wayne Gretzky informed McNall that his prerequisites for a deal to take place were that Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski join him as teammates in Los Angeles.

41. Wayne Gretzky had a major influence on the style of play of the Edmonton Oilers and in the NHL as a whole, helping to inspire a more team-based strategy.

42. Wayne Gretzky held a press conference one day after being awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy, criticizing the NHL for punishing teams and players who previously benefited.

43. Wayne Gretzky was named an officer of the Order of Canada on June 25, 1984, for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey.

44. Wayne Gretzky was named 1982 "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated.

45. That year, Wayne Gretzky became the first hockey player and first Canadian to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.

46. Wayne Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year, and helped the Oilers to first overall in the league.

47. Wayne Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, the son of Phyllis Leone and Walter Gretzky.

48. In 2004, Wayne Gretzky was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

49. Wayne Gretzky became executive director for the Canadian national men's hockey team during the 2002 Winter Olympics, in which the team won a gold medal.

50. Wayne Gretzky won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times, and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.

51. In 1978, Wayne Gretzky signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association, where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers.

52. Wayne Gretzky became known for setting up behind his opponent's net, an area that was nicknamed "Gretzky's office".

53. Wayne Gretzky played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for four teams from 1979 to 1999.