Home > Wayne Gretzky
3 "The Royal Wedding"
He met American actress Janet Jones in 1984 when he was a judge on the show "Dance Fever" and she was a dancer, but they didn't begin dating until 1987. Their July 17, 1988 nuptials at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton was dubbed "The Royal Wedding" by the press and broadcast live throughout Canada. "Guards" from the Edmonton Fire Department stood on the church steps. The event reportedly cost Gretzky over $1,000,000; Janet's dress alone cost $40,000. They have 5 children: Paulina (born that December), Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma.
4 Winter Olympics
Gretzky was Executive Director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. On February 18, he lashed out at the media, officials, and just about everyone else at a press conference, blaming the team's 1-1-1 start on "American propaganda." Defenders said he was merely borrowing a page from former coach Glen Sather to take the pressure off his players. Canada beat the U.S. to win the gold medal 50 years to the day after the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys won the nation's last gold. Wayne was also part of the team in Nagano as a player in 1998. That team failed to bring home a medal when they lost to Finland for the Bronze.
5 Off the Ice
While in Edmonton, he endorsed everything from soft drinks and blue jeans to his own wallpaper, pillow cases, breakfast cereal, chocolate bars, and a Mattel "Great Gretzky" doll. Past and present plugs include Thrifty Car Rental, Peak Antifreeze, Ford Motor Company (in Canada only), Coca-Cola, Esso, McDonald's, Campbell's Soup, Primestar TV, Upper Deck, Nike, Ultra Wheels, Hallmark Cards, Zurich Insurance, and Canadian Imperial Bank. He and his son Ty did commercials for the Sharp Viewcam. He hosted Saturday Night Live in 1989. He lent his likeness to a 1992 cartoon show, Pro-Stars, and a 1996 video game. He posed for the cover of Cigar Aficionado Magazine with Janet. In 1998, he launched a line of fashion menswear, and signed a licensing agreement with a phone card company. He owns a restaurant, Hespeler sports equipment, and co-owns a chain of roller-hockey rinks. After his retirement, he became the spokesman for Bud Light, Power Automotive Group of Southern California, and Tylenol Arthritis Formula. Forbes estimates that Gretzky earned $93.8 million from hockey and endorsements from 1990-98.
In 2000, he became Alternate Governor and Managing Partner of the Phoenix Coyotes NHL team. Gretzky owns 17% of the team.
In 2004 he was voted one of the Ten greatest Canadians in a CBC poll.
6 Career Statistics
| |
|
Regular Season |
|
Playoffs |
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 1976-77 |
Peterborough Petes |
OHA |
3 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1977-78 |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
OHA |
64 |
70 |
112 |
182 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1978-79 |
Indianapolis Racers |
WHA |
8 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1978-79 |
Edmonton Oilers |
WHA |
72 |
43 |
61 |
104 |
19 |
13 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
2 |
| 1979-80 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
79 |
51 |
86 |
137 |
21 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
| 1980-81 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
55 |
109 |
164 |
28 |
9 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
4 |
| 1981-82 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
92 |
120 |
212 |
26 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
12 |
8 |
| 1982-83 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
71 |
125 |
196 |
59 |
16 |
12 |
26 |
38 |
4 |
| 1983-84 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
74 |
87 |
118 |
205 |
39 |
19 |
13 |
22 |
35 |
12 |
| 1984-85 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
73 |
135 |
208 |
52 |
18 |
17 |
30 |
47 |
4 |
| 1985-86 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
52 |
163 |
215 |
46 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
19 |
2 |
| 1986-87 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
79 |
62 |
121 |
183 |
28 |
21 |
5 |
29 |
34 |
6 |
| 1987-88 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
64 |
40 |
109 |
149 |
24 |
19 |
12 |
31 |
43 |
16 |
| 1988-89 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
78 |
54 |
114 |
168 |
26 |
11 |
5 |
17 |
22 |
0 |
| 1989-90 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
73 |
40 |
102 |
142 |
42 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
| 1990-91 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
78 |
41 |
122 |
163 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
2 |
| 1991-92 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
74 |
31 |
90 |
121 |
34 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
| 1992-93 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
45 |
16 |
49 |
65 |
6 |
24 |
15 |
25 |
40 |
4 |
| 1993-94 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
81 |
38 |
92 |
130 |
20 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1994-95 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
48 |
11 |
37 |
48 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1995-96 |
Los Angeles Kings |
NHL |
62 |
15 |
66 |
81 |
32 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1995-96 |
St. Louis Blues |
NHL |
18 |
8 |
13 |
21 |
2 |
13 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
0 |
| 1996-97 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
82 |
25 |
72 |
97 |
28 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
2 |
| 1997-98 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
82 |
23 |
67 |
90 |
28 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1998-99 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
70 |
9 |
53 |
62 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 20 Years |
Totals |
NHL |
1487 |
894 |
1963 |
2857 |
596 |
208 |
122 |
260 |
382 |
68 |
