Wayne Gretzky (born 1961) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and subsequent head coach. After playing 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL is composed of teams in both the United States and Canada) from 1979 to 1999, he retired and went on to assume a coaching role. His nickname, “The Great One”, was a recognition that he is considered to be the greatest hockey player to have played the game, an attribution recognized by many sportswriters, players and the NHL itself.

He holds numerous NHL records, tallied at 61 as of 2020. In addition to playing for various NHL teams, Gretzky also represented Canada in international competition winning The World Cup.

Born and raised in Branford, Ontario’s, Gretzky honed his skills on a backyard rink. He quickly learned the fundamental skills of the game to distinguish himself at an early age. His smart play and ability to improvise on the fly were his trademarks. He was able to anticipate where the puck was going to be and execute the right move at the right time. Skills that he was proficient at included, his deft passing and play making as well as his fast and accurate shots on the opponent’s net.

The NHL retired his jersey number 99 league-wide, making him the only player to receive such an honor. After his retirement in 1999, Gretzky was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, making him one of the few players to have the waiting period waived.

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