Owns a restaurant called "Wayne Gretzky's" at 99 Blue Jays Way in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Currently holds 61 NHL records.Member of the 1998 Canadian olympic hockey team.Father of Tristan Gretzky , Trevor Gretzky , Ty Gretzky , Paulina Gretzky , and Emma Gretzky . Older brother of Glen Gretzky , and Brent Gretzky . Son of Walter Gretzky and Phyllis Gretzky .Widely considered as the best ice hockey player ever.His 17 July 1988 wedding in Edmonton to Janet Jones was broadcast live throughout Canada. It even included uniformed "guards" from the Fire Department standing at attention on the church steps. The archdiocese was criticized for allowing St. Joseph's Basilica to hold the ceremony because neither Gretzky or Jones is Catholic. The wedding reportedly cost Gretzky over $1,000,000; Janet's dress alone cost $40,000. The reception was hosted by Alan Thicke .All 5 of his kids were born at Ceders-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.Has "written"/authorized at least 4 books about himself."Wrote" a daily "journal" syndicated throughout Canada's newspapers detailing his thoughts and feelings about his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame as that day neared.His front teeth were knocked out in a hockey game when he was 10.Smokes cigars.Unsuccessfully attempted to get the number 99 copyrighted, but did succeed in getting the address of his Toronto eatery changed to "99 Blue Jay Way."The Men's Canadian Olympic Team won the Olympic gold medal, beating the United States 5-2. Canada's victory came 50 years to the day the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys won the nation's last gold at the 1952 Oslo Winter Games. [24 February 2002]Gretzky, executive director of the Men's Canadian Olympic Team, lashed out at the entire world at a bizarre and impromptu press conference, saying everyone hated Canada and blamed the team's 1-1-1 start on "American propaganda." [18 February 2002]First child, Paulina, was born 5 months and 2 days after his 17 July 1988 "royal wedding" to Janet Jones.It was believed that he engineered his 1988 trade to the L.A. Kings to help Janet's career. According to the program "Kings Ransom", this was not true. Ironically, he broke up with live-in girlfriend, singer Vicki Moss, because she wouldn't give up her career. Moss was briefly married to Gretzky's friend, David Foster .Eldest of five children.Launched his own line of fashion menswear, The Wayne Gretzky Collection, carried by Canadian department store chain The Bay, with prices ranging from $85.00 to $300.00. [2 October 1998]Proposed to wife Janet over the phone.Bought the CFL Toronto Argonauts with then-Kings owner Bruce McNall and comedian John Candy. [25 February 1991]In 1980, hit .492 for hometown Brantford CKPC Braves senior league baseball team, attracting the attention of the Toronto Blue Jays, who offered him a tryout. He declined.In a move that forever changed the dynamics of the NHL, Gretzky was traded with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski by the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson , Martin Gelinas , $15 million cash and the Kings' three first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Gretzky later played with Carson for two seasons in Los Angeles (1992-93, 1993-94) [9 August 1988]After his retirement, he became the spokesperson for Bud Light beer and Tylenol Arthritis Formula, even though he doesn't actually have osteoarthritis.While in Edmonton, he began to turn himself into a brand name, endorsing everything from soft drinks and blue jeans to his own wallpaper, pillow cases, hockey games, breakfast cereals and a Mattel "Great Gretzky" doll. "Forbes" magazine estimated that between 1990 and 1998, Gretzky earned $93.8 million from hockey and endorsements.On the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine with his wife, Janet Jones . [February 1997]Reportedly saving the stick he used to break Gordie Howe 's NHL career points record on 15 October 1989 against his old team, the Edmonton Oilers, for his son, Ty.Accompanied Queen Elizabeth II to an NHL pre-season game on October 6th 2002 in Vancouver, Canada.Currently resides in Toronto, CanadaOwns homes in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York and Vancouver.Was told by Michael Jordan that retirement was "heavenly." Soon afterward, Jordan returned to the NBA.The Gretzkys live in Thousand Oaks, California, outside Los Angeles.Wayne has agreed in principle to head the Canadian Olympic hockey team for 2006 in Italy if NHL hockey player are involved.Contrary to his image for gentlemanly play, Gretzky was ejected 11 times in his NHL career for unsportsmanlike conduct.Gretzky is godfather to Jari Kurri 's twin sons Ville and Joonas.Art Ross Trophy (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994). Conn Smythe Trophy (1985, 1988). First All-Star Team (1984). First All-Star Team Centre (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991). Hart Memorial Trophy (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990). Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1980, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999). Lester B. Pearson Award (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987). Lester Patrick Trophy (1994). Second All-Star Team Centre (1980, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998).The statue of Gretzky at the entrance of Skyreach Centre, home arena of the Edmonton Oilers, temporarily had a sign hanging from it that read "U$ Lackey" in protest of his comments supporting George W. Bush in the war against Iraq. (25 March 2003)Played for the Edmonton Oilers (1978-1988), the Los Angeles Kings (1988-1996), the St. Louis Blues (1996), and the New York Rangers (1996-1999).Famous for talking about himself in the third person.The Wayne Gretzky International Award is presented annually by the United States Hockey Hall of Fame to "an international citizen who has been deemed to have made a major contribution to the growth and advancement of American hockey."Print/Radio/TV ads for Power Automotive Group of Southern California debut. Gretzky is also the pitchman for Ford of Canada (May 2003).Did a series of TV ads for Sharp Viewcam Camcorder with son Ty.Baroque comic opera "The Loves of Wayne Gretzky" by composer Brad Walton debuted in Toronto. In it, Gretzky leaves his wife for Mario Lemieux (February 1994).One-time owner with Bruce McNall of the Honus Wagner baseball card, the world's most expensive sports card. Only 50 in existence, each is valued at almost a half-million dollars.Inducted into the Hockey Hockey Hall of Fame, bypassing the 3-year waiting period (22 November 1999)Has dual Canadian/American citizenship.Has more assists (1,963) than any other NHL player has total points (goals plus assists).Inducted into the Hockey Hockey Hall of Fame on 22 November 1999. The normal 3-year waiting period was waived. Following Gretzky's induction, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced that the waiting period would not be waived for any future players.Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings caused such a stir in Canada, Canadian Parliment tried to declare Gretzky as a national treasure, wanted the trade declared null and void. In addition, Parliment talked about buying Gretzky's contract, so it could be sold to a Canadian based teamLoves to wear white suit/sport jackets, but will no longer wear them, due to the jackets being ruined from Sharpie pen marks applied accidentally by fans while signing autographs.Returned to Edmonton in 1989 to attend the unveiling of a statue of him hoisting the Stanley Cup, now at the entrance of Skyreach Centre. At the ceremony, former owner Peter Pocklington gave Gretzky's then-infant daughter Paulina a $25,000 savings bond. He later blasted Pocklington in his 1990 autobiography as being "a cheapskate."Named head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes (August 8, 2005).Sport Illustrated writer and author Rick Riley felt that writing Gretzky's biography back in 1990 was a difficult task, because Gretzky is so humble, he won't talk too much about himself.In 1990, the year the Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup, the CBC wanted Gretzky to appear as a reporter for Hockey Night in Canada, should the Oilers win the Stanley Cup (the first time without him), but he respectfully declined, not wanting to interfere with the Oilers' victory.In 1984, when the Oilers won their first Stanley Cup, he was asked to do the "I'm Going To Disneyland", bit for a commercial. He respectfully declined, because he didn't want it to interfere with the moment of winning the Stanley Cup for the first time.He was awarded the O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on June 25, 1984 for his services to sports.Was a part-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL with McNall and John Candy . The group signed Raghib Ismail on the first day of the 1991 NFL draft, where he was projected the #1 overall pick.Was portrayed by Kris Holden-Ried in the film about his father's stroke rehabilitation: Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story (2005).One of his favorite positions on the ice was to take the puck to the back of an opponent's goal and try to set up teammates for a goal.Although he is right-handed (throws, writes and golfs right-handed), he shoots left-handed when playing hockey.
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