I 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 GRETZKYSometimes people ask, ‘Are hockey fights real?’ I say, ‘If they weren’t, I’d get in more of them.
More Wayne Gretzky Quotes
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We played in an era where you were taught to hate your opponent. But life changes. I raise my kids differently than my mom and dad raised their kids.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
When 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 GRETZKY -
The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits – good and bad. So the key to the game is to exploit the bad habits of your opponent.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
It’s just amazing how many companies suddenly want you to hold up their products after you’ve held up the Stanley Cup.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
We 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 GRETZKY -
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 GRETZKY -
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 GRETZKY -
A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
Nothing can replace the Olympics. I love the Olympics. I was so proud when I played in ’98 and I was so proud when we won in 2002.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
Most players go where the puck is. I go where the puck will be.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
Not doing it is certainly the best way to not getting it.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
The day I stop giving is the day I stop receiving. The day I stop learning is the day I stop growing. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
When people come up to me and say, “I was at your Game 7 in the playoffs in Toronto,” or, “I saw your first goal in the NHL,” that triggers memories. But I don’t sit around my kitchen table and tell my kids, “You know, one year I got 92 goals.”
WAYNE GRETZKY -
One of the key qualities that you need to be a great hockey player is fantastic anticipation and feel for the game – if you know where the puck is going before it is hit, that is half the battle.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
I miss all the shots I don’t take.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
At the end of the day everybody lost. We almost crippled our industry. It was very disappointing what happened.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
I grew up such a fan. It was my life. Everything I did was hockey related and everything I have is because of hockey and the NHL.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
You’ll never catch me bragging about goals, but I’ll talk all you want about my assists.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
One of the key qualities that you need to be a great hockey player is fantastic anticipation and feel for the game – if you know where the puck is going before it is hit, that is half the battle.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
It 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 GRETZKY -
I love everything about hockey.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
I don’t like my hockey sticks touching other sticks, and I don’t like them crossing one another, and I kind of have them hidden in the corner. I put baby powder on the ends. I think it’s essentially a matter of taking care of what takes care of you.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
It’s easier to lose than to win.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
I love everything about hockey.
WAYNE GRETZKY -
I 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 GRETZKY -
Your friends, family, and kids have to understand that’s your priority. It’s the only way you can be successful.
WAYNE GRETZKY