Published 11/18/2022, 12:00 PM EST
Former Canadian ice hockey star Wayne Gretzky is one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport. Gretzky played 20 NHL seasons with four teams during his time in the league. He was also the ex-head coach of the NHL team Phoenix Coyotes from 2005-09. Gretzky is regarded as the GOAT of ice hockey for his brilliant feats in the sport.
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To date, he is the leading goal scorer, assist producer, and point scorer in NHL history. Unlike most athletes, Gretzky came into the spotlight at a young age. Once Gretzky revealed how he dealt with early stardom and what kept him grounded.
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How did Wayne Gretzky deal with fame?
Gretzky started playing hockey at a very young age. Most kids his age might not have thought about stepping into the rink, but Gretzky was different. Not only did he play hockey, but by the age of 10, Gretzky was already competing in major ice hockey events.
EDMONTON, AB – OCTOBER 15: Wayne Gretzky #99 of the Los Angeles Kings talks to the media after he scored his 1851st career NHL point against the Edmonton Oilers on October 15, 1989 at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
A 13-year-old Gretzky already had 1000 goals in his pocket from scoring in all the competitive games. Even before signing any major contract, the legendary player started to get recognized by many. In 2017, during an interview with Esquire, Gretzky recalled, “I was thrown in the fire at a young age. All of a sudden at 10 years old, I started to get quite a bit of publicity, and it seemed to be more than the norm.”
However, Gretzky was not the only player to experience fame at such an early age. The hockey player said, “Maybe not everyone had that kind of spotlight at that age—there are only a few guys every so often, like myself or Bobby Orr or Mario Lemieux.”
However, Gretzky never let this spotlight and fame negatively affect him. He always stayed grounded on focused on his career ahead. The star player credited his parents for his down-to-earth behavior. “I think the most important thing is your parents. The one thing that we all have in common is that we have such a close bond with both our mom and dads,” confessed Gretzky.
Nonetheless, media attention never left Gretzky as he later became a world-famous ice hockey player.
Gretzky’s NHL career
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At 16, Gretzky signed his first official contract with the Indianapolis Racers. Soon, a 19-year-old Gretzky won his first NHL Most Valued Player of the Year [MVP] award. But this was just the beginning as he went on to win the MVP award eight consecutive times.
The crowd of spectators, players and team mates applaud as Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers waves in salute on his retirement after the National Hockey League (NHL) game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 18 April 1999 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
In 1981, Gretzky set the record of scoring 50 NHL goals in just 39 games. 1981-82 was Gretzky’s peak NHL season as he ended the season with a record of 92 goals, 120 assists, and 212 points in 80 games. “The Great One” is the only NHL player in history to break the 200-point mark.
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Later in his career, Gretzky played for the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and the New York Rangers. In 1999, he retired from professional ice hockey as one of the greatest of all time.