Trivia

Has more assists (1,963) than any other NHL player has total points (goals plus assists).

Widely considered as the best ice hockey player ever.

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 team

Famous for talking about himself in the third person.

Accompanied Queen Elizabeth II to an NHL pre-season game on October 6th 2002 in Vancouver, Canada.

Was told by Michael Jordan that retirement was "heavenly." Soon afterward, Jordan returned to the NBA.

Loves 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.

Has dual Canadian/American citizenship.

Currently holds 61 NHL records.

(February 25, 1991) Bought the CFL Toronto Argonauts with Bruce McNall and John Candy.

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.

Fellow hockey legend Mark Messier is the godfather of his daughter, Paulina Gretzky.

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)

Proposed to wife Janet over the phone.

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).

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.

He is of Polish, Belarusian, and Ukrainian descent on his father's side, and English, along with Irish and Cornish, ancestry on his mother's side.

Gretzky won the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play 5 times. He did receive 11 ten-minute misconduct penalties in his career (mainly for arguing calls), and one game misconduct awarded after the game was over, also for arguing.

Owns a restaurant called "Wayne Gretzky's" at 99 Blue Jays Way in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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."

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 involved briefly with Gretzky's friend, David Foster.

(August 9, 1988) In a move that forever changed the dynamics of the NHL, Gretzky, Marty McSorley, and Mike Krushelnyski were sold 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 and Carson later played together in Los Angeles (1992-1993, 1993-1994).

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).

Inducted into the Hockey Hockey Hall of Fame, bypassing the 3-year waiting period. Following Gretzky's induction, the Hall announced the waiting period would not be waived for any future players. (November 22, 1999).

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."

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.

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.

Friends with Alan Thicke.

His wedding to Janet Jones was broadcast live throughout Canada. It even included uniformed "guards" from the Fire Department on the church steps. The Archdiocese of Edmonton 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.

(February 24, 2002) 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.

After his retirement, he became the spokesperson for Tylenol Arthritis Formula, even though he doesn't actually have osteoarthritis.

On the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine with his wife, Janet Jones. (February 1997)

Owns homes in Toronto, Westlake Village, CA, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (which features two water slides), and Vancouver.

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.

Grandson Tatum Gretzky Johnson born on January 19, 2015 to daughter Paulina and pro golfer Dustin Johnson.

His front teeth were knocked out in a hockey game when he was 10.

All 5 of his kids were born at Ceders-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

He was awarded the O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on June 25, 1984 for his services to sports.

President and part owner of Phoenix Coyotes (2001)

Member of the 1998 Canadian olympic hockey team.

"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.

(February 18, 2002) Gretzky, executive director of the Men's Canadian Olympic Team, lashed out at a bizarre and impromptu press conference, saying everyone hated Canada and blamed the team's 1-1-1 start on "American propaganda.".

Eldest of five children.

(October 2, 1998) Launched his own line of menswear, The Wayne Gretzky Collection, carried by Canadian department store chain The Bay, with prices from $85.00 to $300.00.

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.

Sold custom-built Georgian-style estate in Thousand Oaks, CA in 2005 to Lenny Dykstra. It was sold at auction in 2010 after Dykstra lost it in foreclosure. It sold again 2013 in for $9,500,000, $5,495,000 less than asking.

Wayne has agreed in principle to head the Canadian Olympic hockey team for 2006 in Italy if NHL hockey player are involved.

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).