Wayne Gretzky An autobiography with Rick Reilly

1. Power Point By: Ryan Marvin Wayne GretzkyAn autobiography with Rick Reilly

2. INTRODUCTION PERSONAL STATS • Wayne was born on January 26,1961 • Born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada • Full name is Wayne Douglas Gretzky • Position for hockey is Center • Nick Names are the Great One, The Great Gretzky, and The Young Prodigy NHL STATS • Teams played on, Edmonton, Las Angels, New York, and St. Louis • Games played are 1487 • Goal - 894 • Assists-1963 • Points-2857 • Penalty Minutes-577Min.

3. CHILDHOOD This young prodigy was the oldest in his family of five kids. The family that Walter and Phyllis started was amazing they would play all types of sports not just hockey. Wayne was into the game of hockey as soon as he could walk he would be sliding all over the floor at home pretending he was playing hockey. When he was two he got his first pair of skates, Walter got a pair of skates a real hockey stick and a little boy and that was all Wayne needed. He was a natural skater he was ripping the ice in that river up. He would practice every day and get better and better. Over time Walter became tired of freezing in the car while Wayne was skating , so he had a simple solution he built a small rink in the families backyard. When Wayne was five he got tired of just practicing he wanted to play for a real team but he couldn’t until he was six, but he just kept practicing until then. When he started his first season he didn’t know he would be versing kids as old as ten but he still was just as good. When he didn’t win a trophy in his first season because he only scored one goal he cried. But the next year was better he scored 96 goals and he acted like he just won the Stanley Cup. He grew better and better and scored more and more goals each year.

4. Adolescence More dominant than ever Wayne was amazing, parent became jealous, they booed at Wayne, but he also had the pressure of the reporters. The fun game became fun with a hole lot of jealousy and fame. Although Wayne was a superstar in hockey he didn’t just focus on just the one sport he played baseball, football, and basketball. He wasn’t as good in those sports but parents still didn’t want to see him there they still booed at him. Even one year an opposing coach said to him” you wont live to see Christmas Gretzky”. It was terrible what they said to this little boy. The fame became abuse and the abuse became worse and worse, the Gretzky family couldn’t even live in there own home it was to dangerous. They made a new start, Wayne was 14 and he was offered to play for a Junior B team that played in Toronto 60 miles away from his home. He was sick and tired of the abuse so he decided to move out , he would play hockey during the weeks and go home on the4 weekends, he transferred schools and when he made new friends they didn’t even know he was a hockey player and when they found out Wayne begged them not to tell anyone. He just wanted to be a normal kid. When he was 17 he signed a contract with the Indianapolis Racers, but the team ran short on money so they had to trade Wayne. On his signed a 10 year contract with the Oilers and he scored 110 points ” which is pretty good for a rookie”. He was chose to play for the WHA All Star Team and he got to play with his idol Gordie Howe.

5. ADULTHOOD Gretzky became the most known name in the NHL. In April he scored his 50th goal in his season that made him the youngest player in the NHL to do this. In his 2nd season he went on to VS Philip Esposito, the leading goal scorer in the NHL. What made this game so intense Wayne as one point of beating Phil’s record. In the first period he helped score a goal by passing to someone on his team, it wasn't a goal but it was a point so it counted. He broke the and even the opposing fans gave Wayne a standing ovation because they knew they just witnessed a great record being broken. Wayne continued to break records including passing Gordie Howe's record. He also became the NHL’s all time leader in points. He became the most popular player in the hole game. On July 1988 he married actress Janet Jones. He ended up have a daughter and three sons and a great with to go with it.

6. TIMELINE Gretzky won 4 Stanley Cups, all with the Edmonton Oilers, in 1983-1984, 1984-1985, 1986-1987 and 1987-1988. Began skating at the age of 2 in1963 Traded to the Kings in 1989 Went pro at 17 still in high school in 1978 Nationally known at 8 in 1969 Traded to Rangers in 1997 Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones have five children: Paulina - born 1988 Ty Robert - born 1990 Trevor Douglas - born 1992 Tristan Wayne - born 2000 Emma Marie - born 2003 Started playing with the Oilers in1979 Was dominant at the age of 6 in 1967 Had own show an Magazine at the age of 13 1974 Married Janet Jones in 1988 Sadly retired in 1999

7. Contributions Wayne brought a new name to game of hockey the way he skated and played. The way he thought about other people and how he would donate money to people who needed it. The way he would play and live had a big impact in the hockey and the social community. He also had so many records that he set it was almost impossible to count. He was mine and so many others favorite player.

8. Interesting Story The story I liked the most is the when a young boy goes to Wayne's door asking for a signed autograph and all Wayne had was Star Os (box of cereal) with his picture on the cover. The boy got a picture, an autograph, and half a box of cereal.

9. My Three Questions • Why did you retire at such a young age? • Do you ever skate like with your kids or anything? • Can you teach me some of your old moves or just help me?

10. Bibliography • Gretzky An Autobiography with Rick Reilly • Wayne Gretzky By Matt Doeden • Google images/Wayne Gretzky