[129] Playing on a line with Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar Mario Lemieux, he recorded a tournament-best 21 points in nine games. Gretzky told journalist Scott Morrison that the final game of his career was his greatest day. [68] The following season, the Oilers met the Islanders in the Finals again, this time winning the Stanley Cup, their first of five in seven years. Love you all, 33 years Happy Anniversary." Wayne Gretzky and actress Janet Jones attend the "The . Most Goals in a Season (92) In the 1981-82 season, Gretzky broke Phil Esposito's record for goals in a season by amassing 92 over 80 games. Emma Gretzky Family. Like a magician, he had to direct attention elsewhere, to his four teammates on the ice with him, to create the momentary distraction in order to move unnoticed into the open ice where size and strength didn't matter. Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., October 10, 1989. . [269], In 2003, while not criticizing Canada for declining to participate in the invasion of Iraq, Gretzky praised President of the United States, George W. Bush, and his handling of the conflict, saying: "the President of the United States is a great leader, I happen to think he's a wonderful man and if he believes what he's doing is right, I back him 100 per cent. [168] This was how Gretzky avoided serious injuries despite being undersized and entering the NHL during its "rough and tumble time"; Gretzky noted that his contemporary Mike Bossy took a beating to score goals, which consequently led him to retire because his back took a beating. [79], 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. [21] His play attracted media attention beyond his hometown of Brantford, including a profile by John Iaboni in the Toronto Telegram in October 1971. [187], Almost immediately after retirement, several NHL teams approached Gretzky about an ownership role. [181] Also in Edmonton, the local transit authority assigned a rush-hour bus route numbered No. March 5, 2021 at 12:02 p.m. EST. The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. A family portrait of Wayne and Janet with kids Trevor, Paulina and Ty in 1997. . [246], Gretzky's appeal as a product endorser far surpassed that of other hockey players of his era. [6], Gretzky was the top scorer in the 1978 World Junior Championships. Walter Gretzky, the father of NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky , died at the age of 82 after suffering from Parkinson's disease as well as other health issues, the family announced. A great athlete, he shared his genius with the world of Ice Hockey.The legend is frequently seen talking about his family. Emma was raised in Los Angeles by her father and mother, American actress Janet Jones, and her three brothers Ty . [113] The 1997 playoff run was Gretzky's last as a player, and Rangers did not return to the playoffs until 2006, well after Gretzky retired. [214] Gretzky began skating at age two and a half and was first taught hockey by his father. The event reportedly cost Gretzky over US$1million. [190][191] Gretzky convinced his long-time agent Michael Barnett to join the team as its General Manager. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times, and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.[8]. Wayne Gretzky @WayneGretzky . It's a whole new surface and everybody starts from ground zero. [43][44] Gretzky finished third in the league in scoring at 110points, behind Robbie Ftorek and Ral Cloutier. [39] The format was a three-game series between the WHA All-Stars and Dynamo Moscow played at Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum. 96. . Former Edmonton Oilers forward Wayne Gretzky greets fans during the closing ceremonies on April 6, 2016, at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Getty Images) Wayne Gretzky. Then an older player in the sunset of his career, he had been passed over for the captaincy of the team. He is survived by their five children: Wayne, Keith, Glen, Brent and Kim, and several grandchildren. Ultimately, it was Racers owner Nelson Skalbania who, on June 12, 1978, signed 17-year-old Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth US$1.75million. [102] During the 199495 NHL lock-out, Gretzky and some friends (including Mark Messier, Marty McSorley, Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman) formed the Ninety Nine All Stars Tour and played eight exhibition games in various countries. Marie, a northern Ontario city that inflicts a heavy travelling schedule on its junior team. [284] The Wayne Gretzky Trophy is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the OHL's Western Conference. "[170], He received a good deal of cover from burly Oiler enforcers Dave Semenko and Marty McSorley. [56] This victory propelled the Kings into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, where they faced the Montreal Canadiens. He is in the NHL Hall of Fame, and is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players ever. By age two, Wayne was trying to score goals against Mary using a souvenir stick. The Trade, as it is known in all sports circles, was the deal that sent Wayne Gretzky from Edmonton to Los Angeles just after the Oilers won another Stanley Cup. [93] The Kings got off to their best start ever, winning four straight en route to qualifying for the playoffs. Then he'd shoot a puck along the boards and into the corner and then go chasing after it. Some say I have a "sixth sense" Baloney. [278] Gretzky was named the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1985 and 1988, receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy. He led the tournament in scoring with 12 points en route to a second-place finish to the Soviet Union,[126] losing 81 in the final. During Gretzky's coaching tenure, the Coyotes did not reach the postseason, and their best finish in the Western Conference standings was 12th. It's like Larry Bird. Wayne Gretzky had four siblings: Kim Gretzky was born May 12, 1963; Keith Gretzky was born February 16, 1967; Glen Gretzky was born August 15, 1969 He is one of the best ice hockey players of all time. Then he'd come back and say, "Now, this is how the smart player does it." He'd shoot it into the corner again, only this time he cut across to the other side and picked it up over there. [249][250] Gretzky is a partner in First Team Sports, a maker of sports equipment and Worldwide Roller Hockey, Inc., an operator of roller hockey rinks. The experts voted Gretzky number one. At age ten, after scoring 196 goals in his hockey league, he scored 158 goals in lacrosse. [108] Gretzky rejected a three-year deal worth $15million with the Blues, and on July 21, signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier for a two-year, $8million (plus incentives) contract. As the Bailey family built their lasting tribute to Ace, the Bavis . As a result, he was offered a contract by the Toronto Blue Jays. [59] He ended the 198182 season with records of 92goals, 120assists, and 212points in 80games, becoming the only player in NHL history to break the two hundred-point mark. [238] During his ownership, the team's colours were changed to silver and black, presaging the change in team jersey colours when he played for the Los Angeles Kings. [5][11] The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. Janet Jones With Her Husband Wayne Gretzky (Source: Chatelaine) The couple is blessed with five adorable children Paulina, Ty Robert, Trevor Douglas, Tristan Wayne, and Emma Marie. Lemieux scored to win the tournament for Canada; the play is widely regarded as one of the most memorable plays in Canadian international competition. [16] On the backyard rink, nicknamed the "Wally Coliseum", winter was total hockey immersion with Walter as mentor-teacher as well as teammate. Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery and Distillery is part of the APL family, located in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country. According to Walter, Wayne was being "shopped" to Los Angeles, Detroit, and Vancouver, and Pocklington needed money as his other business ventures were not doing well. In 1980, when an exercise physiologist tested the recuperative abilities of all of the Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky scored so high that the tester said he "thought the machine had broken. At coach Muzz MacPherson's suggestion, Gretzky settled on 99.[30]. Wayne Gretzky. Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC (/rtski/ GRET-skee; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. In 1983, they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to be swept by the three-time defending champion New York Islanders. I saw him do it night after night. [241][242] Only McNall's name was engraved on the Grey Cup as team owner, but in November 2007, the CFL corrected the oversight, adding Gretzky's and Candy's names. "Wayne Gretzky was one of the most accurate scorers in NHL history", said one biography. "You never knew what he was going to do", said hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. Wayne Gretzky and the hockey world will 'never forget' Ace Bailey, Mark Bavis and 9/11. The investigation revealed the gambling ring had ties to the Bruno-Scarfo crime family and CBS News reported that Gretzky had been caught on a wire tape " discussing how the hockey great's wife . Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung . instagram.com. [70] He was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2009 "for his continued contributions to the world of hockey, notably as one of the best players of all time, as well as for his social engagement as a philanthropist, volunteer and role model for countless young people". [151] He cultivated a love of hockey in his sons and provided them with a backyard rink and drills to enhance their skills. While they were using all this energy trying to rattle his teeth, he was just skating away, circling, analyzing things."[140]. [32][33] Skalbania opted to have Gretzky sign a personal-services contract rather than a standard player contract in part because by that point it was well known that a majority of NHL owners, if not yet the required to add new NHL franchises, were willing to absorb at least some WHA teams. Walter Gretzky, father of Wayne Gretzky, waving at a 2017 hockey game in Toronto. 11. Brantford further inducted Gretzky into its "Walk of Fame" in 2004. Every time he took the ice, there was some spontaneous decision he would make. The Racers were losing $40,000 per game. [200] There was uncertainty about Gretzky's role[201] until it was announced on May 31, 2006, that he had agreed to a five-year contract to remain head coach. The Gretzky Family (Instagram) Similarly, Trevor Douglas was born the third child and second son on 1992 September 14, 14. Nobody would ever say a doctor had learned his profession by instinct; yet in my own way I've put in almost as much time studying hockey as a medical student puts in studying medicine. An extremely rare 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie has sold for $3.75 million in a private transaction, . That includes Wayne Gretzky's oldest daughter, Paulina Gretzky, who has been a singer, model, and actor, and is also known for her long-time relationship with golfer Dustin Johnson. With the WHA's long-term survival obviously in doubt, Birmingham Bulls owner John F. Bassett believed the only way to gain meaningful leverage over the NHL was to sign as many young and promising superstars as possible. [243] In 1992, Gretzky and McNall partnered in an investment to buy a rare Honus Wagner T206 cigarette card for US$451,000, later selling the card. [211], Although Gretzky had previously stated he would not participate in any "old-timers exhibition games",[212] on November 22, 2003, he took to the ice to help celebrate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary as an NHL team. [188] In May 2000, he agreed to buy a 10% stake in the Phoenix Coyotes in a partnership with majority owner Steve Ellman, taking on the roles of alternate governor, managing partner and head of hockey operations. No. [130], The 1991 Canada Cup marked the last time the tournament was played under the "Canada Cup" moniker. [142], He passed and shot with prodigious skill. ", "Wayne Gretzky | They Live Among Us! Trucking magnate and Arizona Diamondbacks part-owner Jerry Moyes was added to the partnership. The Wayne Gretzky family is very close.. Wayne Gretzky was born January 26, 1961.. His dad, Walter Gretzky, was born October 8, 1938. [202] The Coyotes' performance declined in 200607, as the team ended the season 15th in their conference. Gretzky made his opponents compete with five players, not one, and he made his teammates full partners to the game. Walter's drills were his own invention, and were ahead of their time in Canada. Mark Messier, who attended the game along with other representatives of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty, was the last.[123]. [197] Gretzky resumed his head-coaching duties on December 28. Dan Robson. Both McNall and Pocklington quickly agreed. After she said, "Yes," a banner flew by that read . He notched 14 points in 10 games, including a two-goal, two-assist effort in Canada's final game against Sweden to earn the bronze. 31. Turner Sports has reached a multi-year agreement with Wayne Gretzky to be a studio . [233] Trevor is a former minor league baseball player. [31] Several WHA teams courted Gretzky, notably the Bulls and the Indianapolis Racers. [234], Wayne Gretzky's uncle, Al Gretzky, ran as a Conservative candidate in London West in the 2006 federal election and for the libertarian Freedom Party of Ontario in the 2013 provincial by-election for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Wayne will be forever regarded as the greatest of all-time at his craft. In the year he scored his record 92 goals, 22 of them went in the net during the first period, 30 in the secondand 40 in the third. The Oilers went on to win their fifth Cup (and first without Gretzky). [199], In 2006, Moyes became majority owner of the team. "That's a hundred percent right. Gretzky represented the Blues in the game, which his team won 87. [85] Walter Gretzky had known for months after having been tipped off by Skalbania, but kept the news from Wayne so as not to upset him. Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988, had an immediate impact on the team's performance, ultimately leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, and he is credited with popularizing hockey in California. [58] Later that season, Gretzky broke Esposito's record for most goals in a season (76) on February 24, 1982, scoring three to help defeat the Buffalo Sabres 63. Paulina Gretzky is starring in OVO's latest campaign alongside her father, Wayne Gretzky, and the rest of their family.. On Thursday, OVO, the Canadian fashion label established by hip-hop . The league, which at one point iced fourteen teams, was down to seven surviving franchises. Growing up, he was a competitive runner and also batted .492 for the Junior Intercounty Baseball League's Brantford CKCP Braves in the summer of 1980. Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a Canadian former professional hockey player and former head coach from Brantford. [126], Gretzky's international career highlight arguably came three years later at the 1987 Canada Cup. [118] Following the contest, in a departure from the usual three stars announcement, Gretzky was awarded all three stars. Gretzky has made several TV appearances, including as a Dance Fever celebrity judge, and acted in a dramatic role alongside Victor Newman in The Young and the Restless in 1981. He originally wanted to wear number9for his hockey hero Gordie Howebut it was already being worn by teammate Brian Gualazzi. It was like running Gandhi into a corner. Speaking of Paulina, she and golf player Dustin Johnson have been in a relationship since 2011. Published Aug 7, 2019. Hall of Fame defenceman Bobby Orr said of Gretzky, "He passes better than anybody I've ever seen. "[19] The sweaters for 10-year-olds were far too large for Gretzky, who coped by tucking the sweater into his pants on the right side. Gretzky explains his style of play further: People think that to be a good player you have to pick the puck up, deke around ninety-three guys and take this ungodly slap shot. 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. Wayne Gretzky is regarded as the greatest professional ice hockey player of all time by sportswriters, players, the NHL itself, and the Canadian ice hockey magazine The Hockey News. Advertisement. When the WHA folded, the Oilers joined the NHL, where he established many scoring records and led his team to four Stanley Cup championships. In 2004, Gretzky was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He knew he wasn't big enough, strong enough, or even fast enough to do what he wanted to do if others focused on him. After winning the first game of the series by a score of 41, the team lost the next three games in overtime, and then fell 41 in the deciding fifth game, where Gretzky failed to get a shot on net. The eldest sibling, Wayne is an ice hockey legend who needs little introduction. Among their five . [226] They met regularly after that, but did not become a couple until 1987 when they ran into each other at a Los Angeles Lakers game that Gretzky and Alan Thicke were attending. Skalbania told Gretzky he would be moved, offering him a choice between the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets. [12] The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen partly because its yard was flat enough to make an ice rink in winter. In 1977, he was the third pick in the midget draft for the Ontario Major . [210] Due to BC Place being an indoor stadium, and Olympic protocols stating that the lighting of the cauldron should be visible to the public, Gretzky was then escorted out of the stadium to light a second, outdoor cauldron outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, making him the de facto final torchbearer. In June 1978, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. Him: "Which means" His mother was of English, and some Cornish and Irish, descent. 224. [220] Gretzky was a guest host of the American late night variety show Saturday Night Live in 1989. [247] Forbes estimates that Gretzky made US$93.8million from 1990 to 1998. [268] It was the best-selling Canadian book of 2016. [71] Five times between 198182 and 198687, Gretzky led the NHL in goals scored. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). I'd get up in the morning, skate from 7:00 to 8:30, go to school, come home at 3:30, stay on the ice until my mom insisted I come in for dinner, eat in my skates, then go back out until 9:00.[155]. The Canadians had trouble with the big ice. The reality is: If Wayne Gretzky's son can't hit a curveball as well as the next kid, then Wayne Gretzky's . [67] The Oilers were a young, strong team featuring, in addition to Gretzky, future Hall of Famers including forwards Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri; defenceman Paul Coffey; and goaltender Grant Fuhr. The 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card that recently sold for $3.75 million is the same version of the card that sold for $1.29 million this past December. Trevor signed with the Cubs the next month. In 1990, the Associated Press named Gretzky Male Athlete of the Decade. Wayne Gretzky junior career. Howe traveled with the Gretzky family to show support. He left in 2021 to become an analyst on Turner Sports' NHL coverage. In one of the snaps, the family were pictured in a living room. [45] Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year,[35] and helped the Oilers to first place in the league.[46]. [136], Gretzky's size and strength were unimpressivein fact, far below average for the NHLbut he is widely considered the smartest player in the history of the game. ", "Editorial: Gretzky endorsement of Harper a new political reality", "Emile Francis to receive Wayne Gretzky award", "Erie, McDavid Lose OHL Final As Junior Hockey Says Goodbye To An All-Time Great", "Young stars shine during Minor Hockey Week", "Wayne Gretzky rookie card sells for $3.75 million, shatters record for hockey card", Wayne Gretzky, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award: Virtual Museum of Canada Exhibit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wayne_Gretzky&oldid=1141939613, That he's regarded as the best player in the history of the NHL, see, That he's regarded as the greatest by many sportswriters, see, For the records he held at retirement, see, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:34. Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian-born retired professional hockey player and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $250 million. [163] He consistently scored last in strength tests among the Edmonton Oilers, bench pressing only 140 pounds (64kg). 9. The 205-pound (93kg) Potvin, a three-time winner of the Norris Trophy for best defenceman, added that part of the problem in hitting Gretzky hard was that he was "a tough guy to dislike what was there to hate about Gretzky? Me: "Away from the guy, not towards him. [116], The 199899 season was his last as a professional player. Wayne's brothers Brent and Keith both had short-lived professional careers in hockey and his son, Trevor, was an impressive high school football quarterback who played on the same team as the sons of Will Smith and Joe Montana. Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC was born on January 26, 1961, in Ontario, Canada to Walter Gretzky and Phyllis Leone. Gretzky was named to the club on November 29, 1997. [124] He recounted: My last game in New York was my greatest day in hockey Everything you enjoy about the sport of hockey as a kid, driving to practice with mom [Phyllis] and dad [Walter], driving to the game with mom and dad, looking in the stands and seeing your mom and dad and your friends, that all came together in that last game in New York. "[81], Between 1982 and 1985, the Edmonton Oilers averaged 423 goals a season, when no previous team had scored 400, and Gretzky on his own had averaged 207 points, when no player before had scored more than 152 in one year. They all wanted to play like Gretzky. [229] Broadcast live throughout Canada from Edmonton's St. Joseph's Basilica, members of the Fire Department acted as ceremonial guards. [154] In his autobiography, he wrote: All I wanted to do in the winters was be on the ice. The Gretzkys made an arrangement with a local family they knew and Wayne played for the Greyhounds, at age 16. [222] In December 2016, Gretzky appeared briefly in a cameo on a Christmas episode of The Simpsons as a winter character. This arrangement came under increased scrutiny by the mid-1980s, especially following reports that Pocklington had used the contract as collateral to help secure a $31million loan with the Alberta government-owned Alberta Treasury Branches. "Our family is thrilled to become the new guardians of this world-class hobby treasure." [133][134] Team Canada then lost the bronze medal game 32 to Finland to finish without a medal. In his active years, he played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1979 to 1999 for 4 teams. He was nervous Edmonton would greet him with boos, but they were eagerly waiting for him. [257][258] From 1993 to 2020, Gretzky and a business partner operated the Wayne Gretzky's restaurant near the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. [24], When Gretzky was 14, his family arranged for him to move to and play hockey in Toronto, partly to further his career, and partly to remove him from the uncomfortable pressure he faced in his hometown. [120], The final game of Gretzky's career was a 21overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 18, 1999, in Madison Square Garden. Despite being underdogs against the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division semifinals, Gretzky led the Kings to a shocking upset of his old squad, spearheading the Kings' return from a 31 series deficit to win the series 43. Goalies called his shots "sneaky fast." Wayne is married to American actress Janet Jones. [60] That year, Gretzky became the first hockey player and first Canadian to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, the son of Phyllis Leone (Hockin) and Walter Gretzky. In this article, we'll take a look at 18 photos the Gretzky family doesn't want us to see. [272][273][274][275][276] In 2014, Gretzky praised Harper at a United for Ukraine Gala event in Toronto calling him "one of the greatest prime ministers ever". The Gretzkys had to legally challenge the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to win Wayne the right to play in a different area, which was disallowed at the time. Former NHL star Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet have listed their Colonial-style mansion for $22.9 million. Having debuted his ice hockey career at a very tender age, Wayne Gretzky played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for four teams from 1979 to 1999. That's all hockey is: open ice. Since the Order ceremonies are always held during the hockey season, it took 13years and 7monthsand two Governors Generalbefore he could accept the honour. Here are just 14 things the family hopes remains on the DL so as not to tarnish the Gretzky family name. [25] According to Walter, the "capper" was being booed on "Brantford Day" at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens in February 1975. The Gretzky family showed some love for Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open. [18] According to Martin, "Wayne was so good that you could have a boy of your own who was a tremendous hockey player, and he'd get overlooked because of what the Gretzky kid was doing. Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, the son of Phyllis Leone (Hockin) and Walter Gretzky. The NHL did not allow the signing of players under age 20, but the WHA had no rules regarding such signings. The only information we know now is that the baby's name starts with a T, keeping in line with a family tradition for male names. [164] History repeated itself in June 2011, when Gretzky's 17-year-old son, Trevor, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. [271], Gretzky's career achievements include many awards and honours. [40] The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers, who put Gretzky on a line with his boyhood idol Gordie Howe and Howe's son, Mark. Just move the puck: give it up, get it back, give it up. For the first season that Gretzky played in Los Angeles, the Kings had their training camp at the Olympiques' arena. [91] Large cheers erupted for his first shift, his first touch of the puck, his two assists, and Mark Messier's body check of Gretzky into the boards. [162] He weighed "about 170 pounds" for the better part of his career. [245] Gretzky was a board member and executive officer of the Hespeler Hockey Company. They had trouble with the European patterns and the lateral play and the endless, inventive cycling. He made them skate to his level and pass and finish up to his level or they would be embarrassed. [114] Along with Jaromir Jagr, he topped the NHL in 199798 with 67assists. He did not, however, compete in the final against the United States due to a back injury. [55], In his second season, Gretzky won the Art Ross (the first of seven consecutive) with a then-record 164points, breaking both Bobby Orr's record for assists in a season (102) and Phil Esposito's record for points in a season (152). Long prior to either him or Gretzky joining the Blues, Mike Keenan had refused to moderate his coaching style even while coaching Gretzky while with Team Canada during international tournaments. She was nonchalantly greeted by an already warmed-up Bouchard, who already practiced for about 45 minutes-working on net approaches and volleys. He reached one milestone in this last season, breaking the professional total (regular season and playoffs) goal-scoring record of 1,071, which had been held by Gordie Howe. [144] Because he was so light compared to other players, goalies were often surprised by how hard Gretzky's shot was. [32] While in the air, Skalbania worked on the deal.