They can change the rules, they can change the equipment, but there are only few who could change the game they play. Wayne Gretzky was one of these few athletes that change the game of hockey forever. There is no one Canadian who had an impact on one particular sport as much as Gretzky had on hockey. Some people may argue Steve Nash is the greatest Canadian sports figure, or even other great Canadian hockey players such as Gordie Howe or Maurice Richard, but all of them had some flaws that Gretzky never had. Steve Nash never played great basketball at the early part of his career, Gordie Howe played for thirty years and his numbers are not even close to Gretzky's, and even though Maurice Richard scored 50 goals in 50 games Gretzky accomplished the same feat in only 39 games. The Greatest Canadian sports figure, no doubt, is Wayne Gretzky because of his qualities on the ice, statistics, and his many other accomplishments.
Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers.
A statue of Wayne Gretzky raising the Stanley Cup ...
Ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky, Chicago, IllinoisWhen Wayne Gretzky started playing organized hockey he was only six years old and his teammates and opponents were ten. At the age of sixteen the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League signed him and once again his teammates and opponents were four years older then he was. When Gretzky entered the NHL people wondered whether his small stature would be able to keep up with the big boys. He proved every critic wrong. The reason he was so good was because of his qualities and abilities on the ice. Gretzky never had the size to play hockey, but his masterful stick handling and finesse skating abilities separated him from the others. His precision passing and prolific scoring ability made him a complete player. He became the best player on the ice...