Wayne Gretzky: The Father of Hockey

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“…He catches it off the board pass; here is ‘The Great One’ Wayne Gretzky! He dangles in front of the last defender with five seconds left; he has the open net in sight! HE SCORES! He has broken the record folks; 50 goals in 39 games!” - (Live Broadcast from Edmonton, Alberta: Dec. 30 1981.) Wayne Gretzky has been deemed one of the most influential figures in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has broken multiple records and has amazed millions with his talents; not only has he achieved multiple awards and records, but he has inspired hockey fans and players around the world. Wayne is a captivating figure in the world of hockey because of his early success as a child, his remarkable career accomplishments, and his substantial impact on the NHL today.
Wayne Gretzky was just as gifted in his earlier years as his latter years of hockey; he was a better player than the older kids on his team. According to the web page “Wayne Gretzky Biography”, Wayne was born in Brantford, Ontario on January 26, 1961. His parents, Phyllis and Walter Gretzky, had four other children: Keith, Glen, Brent, and Kim Gretzky (Zoll 1). Wayne was the eldest of five, and took interest in hockey at a young age, sparked by his father’s love for hockey. When Wayne turned six, his father constructed an ice rink in his backyard. The construction of this rink greatly helped Wayne in his early career as a hockey player, because it allowed him to practice daily. The main reason for Walter building the rink was for “self preservation”; Walter spent countless hours freezing at the local park’s pond, while he watched Wayne skate (“Gretzky Biography”). While he continued to improve upon himself, he started playing in leagues that were higher than his age group (“Gretz...

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Works Cited

"Gretzky NHL Records." Gretzkycom RSS. WDG Enterprises, Inc., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. .
"Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Wayne Gretzky - Biography." Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Wayne Gretzky - Biography. Hockey Hall of Fame, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. .
Morrison, Jessica. Wayne Gretzky: Greatness on Ice. New York: Crabtree Pub., 2011.
"Wayne Gretzky." 2014. The Biography Channel website. Feb 26 2014, 08:20 .
“Wayne Gretzky Biography." Gretzkycom RSS. WDG Enterprises, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. .
Zoll, Alana. "Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. .

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