That’s the hardest part of this whole process. The best part is picking the players and the worst part is telling basically five players they are not going to play tonight.
WAYNE GRETZKYThat’s the hardest part of this whole process. The best part is picking the players and the worst part is telling basically five players they are not going to play tonight.
WAYNE GRETZKYI have absolutely no complaints about my life. But people think I got handed everything, all this kind of fell in my lap, that I was just God-gifted with all this talent. I wanted people to realize it’s a lot tougher than just waking up one day and you’re in the NHL.
WAYNE GRETZKYWhen I played in a 21-team league, there were six or seven goalies who were just average, and the equipment and pads were smaller. I came in the right era. I played for the right team. It was all speed, and creativity and imagination.
WAYNE GRETZKYI love everything about hockey.
WAYNE GRETZKYI wasn’t naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that’s the way I’ll be as a coach.
WAYNE GRETZKYI really wanted to write a book [99: Stories of the Game] on the tradition and history of the league, where kids can pick it up and read it and learn things and say, “Geez, I didn’t know that. That’s pretty cool.”
WAYNE GRETZKYWhen you’re playing an exhibition, you’re kind of letting everyone get an opportunity.
WAYNE GRETZKYAs a player, you have one responsibility, to focus yourself and be ready for the game. As a coach, your responsibility is to get 20 guys ready and have them all on the same page. If you can’t get every guy ready every night, you’re going to struggle.
WAYNE GRETZKYIt doesn’t matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what other people think. You have to get on the ice and participate and play and the best team wins.
WAYNE GRETZKYMy kids are no different than anyone else’s – they tend to disagree with everything I say!
WAYNE GRETZKYWe feel fortunate [with Canada hockey team]. We have got a lot of guys who love to play, but they also love to win even more. We are pretty happy. Although we are young, we like our group of players.
WAYNE GRETZKYLifting the Stanley Cup for the first time. There’s nothing like it. It’s the greatest story. In my era, they used to say you couldn’t be a superstar without winning one. I remember thinking when I lifted it: “Now they can’t say that about me.”
WAYNE GRETZKYYou’ll never catch me bragging about goals, but I’ll talk all you want about my assists.
WAYNE GRETZKYThat’s the hardest part of this whole process. The best part is picking the players and the worst part is telling basically five players they are not going to play tonight.
WAYNE GRETZKYIt’s just amazing how many companies suddenly want you to hold up their products after you’ve held up the Stanley Cup.
WAYNE GRETZKYWe’re in a tough situation because of teenage children, and then we have a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, so my family and my responsibilities is sort of a juggle.
WAYNE GRETZKY