Published 11/23/2022, 8:00 AM EST
Wayne Gretzky, aka the Great One, is one of the world’s greatest ice hockey players. The four times Stanley Cup champion dedicated most of his youth to his sport. After the 1998–1999 NHL season, he announced his retirement, leaving behind an enduring legacy.
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Hockey is a sport that invites a lot of body contact between players, making it mandatory to introduce obstruction and interference rules. These regulations restrict using sticks or other physical contact to prevent another player from touching the ball.
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Gretzky wanted the game to be consistent
In an interview in 1995, Wayne Gretzky once expressed his worry over the inconsistent approach toward the NHL rules. He opened up about the NHL being in chaos over the issue of obstruction and interference.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 11: Wayne Gretzky #99 of the Edmonton Oilers skates on the ice during an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils on November 11, 1982 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Wayne Gretzky said, “Nobody is sure what’s going on.” Gretzky stressed that some games strictly followed the interference and obstruction rules. In other games, they did not follow these rules properly. Gretzky wanted the regulations to be consistent for all games.
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He disclosed that even the slightest contact between players would result in penalties during exhibitions. However, the players were not penalized for touching others as the rule’s strictness gradually diminished.
Wayne Gretzky lived his dream through his son
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The NHL legend Wayne Gretzky was not born a hockey lover. Gretzky has admitted that he was a huge baseball fan as a teenager. He claimed that despite not being a decent player, he used to love and admire baseball considerably more than hockey.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky)
Wayne’s son, Trevor Gretzky, fulfilled his father’s dream of playing professional baseball. Baseball player and actor Trevor Gretzky was born in California, where baseball is a popular sport. Trevor played baseball in school and also took training from famous coaches.
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He retired from the minor baseball league in 2021 and established his career as an actor and producer. Trevor has been a part of movies like Old Man Rush, American Seige, and Apex.