Gretzky

After breaking or tying more than sixty records in hockey, it's no wonder that Wayne Gretzky is known as "The Great One." Born in Brantford, Ontario, on January 26, 1961, in a nation obsessed with the sport, he threw himself into the game practically from the time he first laced up a pair of skates. When he retired from the NHL in 1999, he had led several teams to Stanley Cup victories, competed in the Olympics, and changed the way hockey was played forever. Known for his love for family and as a truly decent human being, Wayne Gretzky is revealed as more than a sports legend in this easy-to-read biography.

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER First he rewrote the record book. Now, to mark the NHL's ninety-ninth anniversary, Wayne Gretzky has written the story of our game. In 99: Stories of the Game, Gretzky looks back on the last ninety-nine years and tells us, from his point of view, about the NHL’s most memorable moments. We already know what he means to the game. Now he shows us what the game means to him. From hockey's fierce early battles on natural ice; through its mythical golden era, where Howe, Richard, Béliveau, Hull, Orr, and Esposito defined greatness; through the unforgettable dynasties in Montreal, New York, and Edmonton and the success stories of today’s NHL, Gretzky takes us onto the ice and into the dressing room to share never-before-published stories about the great players and great characters who have inspired him. With the insight of someone who knows the incomparable thrill of lifting the Stanley Cup, as well as the agony of falling short against a bitter rival, Gretzky weaves in his own memories with the saga of the game that has meant so much to him. Warm, direct, and personal, these are accounts of friendship and rivalry, triumphs and upsets, role players and heroes. All of them great stories of the game.

"Total Gretzky provides fans with a wonderful and lasting tribute to the greatest hockey player of all time. This gorgeous, full-colour book based on "The Hockey News' commemorative magazine "The Great One, but adding much, much more, gives readers the total picture. It features over 130 glorious, stunning photographs, almost exclusively in colour. It includes a moving tribute by celebrated hockey author Roy MacGregor, a foreword by Gretzky fan and friend Peter Gzowski, and fascinating and revealing articles by former NHL players and acclaimed "Hockey News editors and writers. And "Total Gretzky features something truly unique: the most exhaustive look at Gretzky's career, in numbers, ever compiled. In addition to career totals and records held, "Total Gretzky lists every game, year by year, in which Gretzky ever played in the NHL, in the WHA, in junior, on Team Canada, and in all-star games, with a running total of goals, assists and points accumulated for each stage of his remarkable career. Milestone games and records are highlighted, and Gretzky's amazing achievements are set against those of other hockey immortals. "Total Gretzky is a dazzling and complete testament to Wayne Gretzky, a book that no hockey fan should be without.

A story of teamwork with a positive message, featuring Wayne Gretzky and Coach Wally (Wayne's dad, Walter Gretzky) Taylor is so excited when he makes the hockey team -- and not just any team, but HIS team. The boy they are already calling The Great One. Taylor wants to be great too, but he's still got a lot to learn. Lucky for him, Coach Wally is in his corner, guiding him through the ups and downs of being part of a hockey team, and being the best player he can be. As Coach Wally says, if you have a good time, work hard and do your best, "that is all that matters."

“If it sounds outrageous, then Rob Gordon was involved.” “These stories are hilarious, viewed in a greater perspective, they represent true Canadiana” “But officer, if I was a real criminal, would I have just taken 3 teensy little bottles of Beer?” Rob Gordon “A must read for anyone who thinks that life is stressful!” “There are others out there that push the limits on decency, this is a man who tells it like it is with a “Flashman Twist”, perhaps a modern Flashman! “My own work is far removed from the places and situations he goes, that is why I love them..” Dr. Kathleen Lundon , Author “Orthopedic Rehabilitation Science”

Wayne Gretzky, known to millions as The Great One, wasn't the biggest, fastest, or strongest hockey player ever, but he was without a doubt the best so far. Wayne's ability to read the game and consistently make the right moves, earning him records for scoring year after year. His life tells the story of how far hard work and smart thinking can take a kid from Brantford, Ontario.

From his standout youth, where he honed his skills on a backyard rink, to his unlikely jump to the pros at the age of 17, this biography chronicles Wayne Gretzky's ascension to the greatest hockey player of all time to his shocking trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1998—an event that rocked hockey fans across North America. This chronicle reveals, for the first time, the true story behind the deal, as well as Gretzky's important role in making the trade happen. From the press conference where the trade was announced and where Gretzky wept, this work notes how the “Great One” could have been crying tears of joy as he realized his life was about to get a whole lot better—playing for more money in a California city that would be a perfect home for him and his glamorous new actress-wife.