NHL's Wayne Gretzky recounts unreal story how he got ‘Great One' nickname.
The post NHL's Wayne Gretzky recounts unreal story how he got 'Great One' nickname. appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Before he was an NHL Hall of Famer, Wayne Gretzky was just 10, missing teeth and lighting up the scoreboard with 400 goals. But the nickname that would follow him forever came from a single line in a local newspaper, and his dad wanted nothing to do with it.
Advertisement
Gretzky recently shared how the iconic 'Great One' nickname originated. It wasn't a planned publicity move. A reporter from the London Free Press came to write a story after Gretzky's amazing season. At the end of the article, the journalist made a bold suggestion: if legends like Gordie Howe were 'Mr. Hockey,' maybe the 10-year-old sensation should be called 'The Great One.'
As soon as the article was printed, Gretzky's father pushed back. He didn't want his son carrying that kind of title at such a young age. But no matter how hard he tried to stop it, the nickname wouldn't fade away. It kept coming up until eventually, even Wayne had to accept it. 'We're going to have to live with it,' he remembered thinking.
The name came after an almost legendary season—400 goals in a single year. For most kids, that number might sound impossible, but for young Wayne, it was just another chapter in a journey that had barely started. That stat alone had reporters and fans scrambling to find words big enough to match his performance.
That same year brought a rite of passage. Wayne Gretzky took a hit, lost some teeth, and burst into tears. His father didn't coddle him; instead, he offered a sentence that stuck just as much as the nickname: 'Well, now you're a real hockey player.'
Advertisement
Between the missing teeth and the 400-goal season, it was a year that shaped a legacy. 'The Great One' wasn't created in the NHL spotlight; it started in the pages of a local paper, with a kid who couldn't stop scoring and a name too fitting to ignore.
Related: NHL fan goes viral for Oilers-Panthers jersey change during Stanley Cup Final Game 5
Related: 3 best destinations for Stars' Jason Robertson amid growing trade buzz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Where do the Oilers and Panthers rank among the greatest repeat Stanley Cup Final matchups?
Are you enjoying the rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers? I'm guessing you are, since it's already getting some buzz as one of the greatest Stanley Cup Finals of the cap era. This comes one year after our own Chris Johnston ranked the 2024 edition as the best final of the era before it was even over. Advertisement So yeah, it's fair to say these two teams work well together. Sometimes, with the right matchup, that just happens. Where it's Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, or Bret Hart and Steve Austin, some pairings just make magic together. And that can be true even if it takes a little while to get them back together. As luck would have it, the Oilers and Panthers are the tenth iteration of the same two teams meeting in multiple Stanley Cup Final since the start of the expansion era in 1968. So today, let's put together a ranking of all ten of those pairings, from worst to best, based on how entertaining the resulting series was. The Panthers and Oilers are at a disadvantage here, since their second series hasn't ended yet. But I'm guessing they're still going to rank pretty high, and might even end up taking the crown. Let's find out… First matchup: In 1968, the two teams met in a matchup pitting an established powerhouse against an expansion team. Predictably, the Canadiens swept the series in four games, none of which anyone alive today has any recollection of. Second matchup: In 1969, the two teams met in a matchup pitting an established powerhouse against a recent expansion team. Predictably, the Canadiens swept the series in four games, none of which anyone alive today has any recollection of. Were they classics?: It's subtle, but I tipped my hand in the previous two sections. No, these were not classics. You could make a case that they're among the worst Stanley Cup Finals of the expansion era, although the first meeting at least had a couple of overtimes. Star power: This wasn't the most star-studded Canadiens team ever, but they did feature names like Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and Serge Savard, as well as a young Rogie Vachon and an old Gump Worsley between the pipes. The Blues were basically team 'Red Berenson and pray for rain,' although they did have Glenn Hall in goal, and he was even backed up by Jacques Plante in the second meeting. Advertisement Controversy: Why are we letting an expansion team have a guaranteed path to the final? It would take the NHL one more year to fix that, resulting in a 1970 final that we'll see a bit further down the list. Most memorable moment: It probably came off the ice, as Canadiens legend Toe Blake announced his retirement from coaching shortly after the 1968 final ended. Bottom line: It's always nice when these sorts of rankings have at least one spot everyone can agree on. First matchup: In 1988, the Oilers swept the Bruins in five games. Second matchup: In a rematch two years later, the Bruins managed to win a game, but once again lost the series in five. Were they classics?: They were not. Star power: In addition to most of the Oilers legends (although Wayne Gretzky was gone by 1990), you had Boston's Ray Bourque in the first two finals of his career. We didn't know it at the time, but these series would be important building blocks for Bourque's OGWAC story. Also, the 1990 Conn Smythe winner was Oilers goalie Bill Ranford, which is fun because the Bruins had traded him to Edmonton a few years before. Controversy: Did you catch the part about the 1988 series being a five-game sweep? Yeah, this was the year that the lights went out in Boston during Game 4. The game was tied at the time, so the league just moved on to holding Game 5 in Edmonton as scheduled. The result didn't go into the books as an official tie, but the game and its stats did count. Most memorable moment: It wasn't an especially competitive rivalry, but at least they did give us a triple-OT game. That was Game 1 of the 1990 final, with Petr Klima going from the doghouse to the hero. Bottom line: Not great by any stretch, but at least the 1990 edition was weirdly memorable. First matchup: The Canadiens won their second straight Cup in 1977, sweeping the Bruins in four straight. Advertisement Second matchup: The rematch came a year later and saw the Bruins put up a better fight. But Montreal still won, this time in six. Were they classics?: First things first – remember, we said we were only doing the post-expansion era, which is why these two teams only account for two matchups. They've faced each other in the final on five other occasions from before 1968, with the Candiens winning every one of them. As far as 1977 and 1978, no, they weren't classics (even though these two teams were capable of one, as we'll see in a minute). Star power: Those late-70s Canadiens were stacked, with names like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson and Ken Dryden. The Bruins weren't as star-studded, although they still had Hall of Famers like Brad Park, Gerry Cheevers and a 40-something Johnny Bucyk. Oh, and the coaching matchup was Scotty Bowman and Don Cherry. Controversy: Cherry let the refs have it in 1978, accusing them of favoring Montreal by only calling coincidental minors instead of giving Boston power plays. Most memorable moment: Mention these two teams from this era, and everyone remembers their classic Game 7 that featured the too-many-men call leading to the Canadiens' OT comeback win. One problem, at least for our purposes: That one came in the 1979 semi-final, not one of the finals. We'll probably have to settle for Jacques Lemaire's OT Cup-winner in 1977. Bottom line: This is arguably the NHL's greatest rivalry, including more Stanley Cup Final matchups than any other pairing. But through our post-1968 lens, featuring just these two series, they're just OK. First matchup: The up-and-coming Oilers got their first shot at a Cup in 1983 against the Islanders, who'd won three straight at that point. They made it four, delivering a strong message in a surprising sweep. Advertisement Second matchup: The rematch came one year later and this time it was the Oilers who flexed, winning in five to take the throne as the NHL's new dynasty. Were they classics?: In the big picture, maybe you'd call them that, as there may have never been a more dramatic torch-passing between two rivalries. But the series themselves were duds. Star power: Overwhelming, with the Islanders featuring Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier while the Oilers had Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Mark Messier. Mix in Hall-of-Fame goalies Grant Fuhr and Billy Smith, and Glen Sather and Al Arbour behind the benches, and there may not be a pairing that can match this one. Controversy: We sometimes say a goalie is playing out of his mind, and in Smith's case, we could mean it in more ways than one. He was great, winning the Conn Smythe in 1983. He was also a stick-swinging maniac, which added to the drama. Let's just say Sam Bennett's crease-crashing act might have played out just a bit differently if he'd tried it on 1983-era Billy Smith. Most memorable moment: Befitting a pair of series that didn't really deliver on the ice, this one happened in the hallways. According to legend, members of the losing Oilers didn't truly understand what it took to win the Cup until they walked by the dressing room of the victorious Islanders and saw how beaten up the champs were. Did this actually happen? Probably not, but fans love it, so it's become the sort of lore nobody challenges. (Until one of you sends it in for the next Contrarian.) Bottom line: All the elements were there for a legendary final or two. We did not get those, and have to settle for symbolism and urban legends. First matchup: In 1986, the Canadiens rode rookie Patrick Roy to a five-game win. Advertisement Second matchup: Three years later, the Flames got their revenge, winning their first (and still only) Cup by beating the Canadiens in six in the 1989 final. Were they classics?: Both series were good, but probably fall just short of true classic status. Star power: The first Calgary team had Lanny McDonald and Al MacInnis, and added classic Flames names like Joe Nieuwendyk, Theo Fleury and Doug Gilmour for the rematch. Meanwhile, the Canadiens were built from the back end, featuring Larry Robinson and Chris Chelios on both teams. And of course, the goaltending matchup featured Hall of Famers Roy and Mike Vernon, making these two series the second and third most famous Roy vs. Vernon battles. Controversy: There was an 'appalling' postgame brawl in the 1986 series that featured some biting, and saw the league hammer the teams with fines. Most memorable moment: For the Canadiens, I'd go with Brian Skrudland's record-setting goal nine seconds into overtime. For the Flames, it was more about finally seeing McDonald get to hold the Cup. Bottom line: Back then, it was nice to see teams other than the Oilers or Islanders in a final. And in hindsight, these were the last two all-Canadian finals we may ever see. First matchup: In 1970, the Bruins took over from the Canadiens as the established team that would sweep the expansion Blues in the final. Second matchup: Almost five decades later, the Blues got their revenge by beating the Bruins in seven to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 2019. Were they classics?: The first meeting, not so much. The second series did go to seven, but probably falls just short of being one of the true greats of the modern era. Star power: Decent but not overwhelming. The 1970 Bruins were built around legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, while the 2019 edition had names like Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand. But the Blues don't really carry their end of their bargain here, with even the 2019 winners being more than the sum of their parts. Advertisement Controversy: There was a missed tripping call in the 2019 final that was bad even by NHL playoff officiating standards. Most memorable moment: Somewhat surprisingly, it comes from the 1970 final instead of the far more recent (and far better) series. Even though some would argue that it remains one of the NHL's most overrated moments, it has to be Orr's flying Cup winner. Bottom line: This is the longest gap between series we'll see on this list, and you have to appreciate long-term booking. And it was worth the wait, with one seven-game series and another that at least produced a historic moment. First matchup: The first came in 1985. In a rare meeting of the two top teams in the regular-season standings, rookie coach Mike Keenan led his league-topping Flyers against the defending champs and won the opener, only to see the Oilers win out to take the series in five. Second matchup: Two years later, we got a rematch in which the Oilers were heavy favorites. But the Flyers gave them all they could handle, taking them to a seventh game before losing. Were they classics?: The first, no, but you could make an argument that the 1987 series was. Star power: The Oilers were stacked. The 1985 Flyers were not, with one Hall of Famer (Mark Howe) and a handful of Hall of Very Good guys like Tim Kerr and Brian Propp; their leading scorer in the final that year was 20-year-old winger Derrick Smith. The 1987 team wasn't much different, although rookie goalie Ron Hextall stole the show, winning the Conn Smythe in a losing cause. Controversy: Lots of rough stuff, as you'd expect from these two teams in that era. But my favorite controversy came in the 1985 series, when the Flyers' radical idea of letting their goalies have a water bottle on top of the net resulted in Glen Sather threatening to pull the Oilers off the ice while demanding to know whether buckets of fried chicken were next. Most memorable moment: It would be the Game 7, and probably Glenn Anderson's slapper to seal the Oilers' title. Bottom line: The Oilers sure seem to love showing up on this list. This was the best of the three options from the 1980s dynasty. First matchup: In 1971, the Canadiens followed a so-so season by upsetting the Black Hawks in seven games. Second matchup: Two years later, the teams met again, this time with Montreal the heavy favorite. They won the Cup in six. (By the way: No, you're not catching a repeated typo – they were called the Black Hawks and not the Blackhawks back then.) Advertisement Were they classics?: Pretty close. I'm not sure modern fans remember these meetings all that well, but they gave us 13 games, almost all of them close. Star power: High. We've already met most of those early '70s Canadiens up above, and they'd just added Frank Mahovlich. Meanwhile, the Hawks had Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito, plus Bobby Hull in the first meeting. Controversy: There was a big one on the Montreal side in 1971, with coach Al MacNeil benching captain Henri Richard, who responded by calling his own coach 'incompetent' while the series was still going on. It led to MacNeil becoming the only coach to be fired right after winning a Cup. Most memorable moment: It's probably the Richard/MacNeil feud, but let's work in a mention of the Black Hawks beating the Canadiens 8-7 in Game 5 of the 1973 final, which still stands as the highest-scoring final game ever. Bottom line: I'm not trying to go all old-man on you kids out there, but these are two underrated finals that deserve more respect. First matchup: Last year, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Oilers fought back to force a Game 7 and everyone freaked out. It ruled. Second matchup: We're five games in as I write this, with three games being overtime classics and the other two being impressive-but-forgettable Panthers wins. Were they classics?: I'd put the first series in that category for sure. The rematch is still to be determined, although an Oilers win in Game 6 would set the table nicely. Star power: Well, both series have featured the best player in the world, who may someday even be placed in the context of being the single greatest player in the history of the sport. And in addition to Playoff Sam Bennett, there's also Connor McDavid. Plus Leon Draisaitl, Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Evan Bouchard, Sergei Bobrovsky, Brad Marchand dropping in for the rematch … you know what, I'm going to give this one a yes. Advertisement Controversy: We've had a disputed interference review, some water bottle hijinks and even some warmup weirdness with the backup goalies. But given that the Panthers and Corey Perry and Evander Kane are all involved, we've miraculously avoided anything all that bad, which means that … oh no, I just jinxed it, didn't I? I apologize to everyone for what's about to happen. Most memorable moment: If you're an Oilers fan, you're hoping it's still on the way. For now, there's been a ton of fun moments to choose from on the ice. But I really think the most memorable of them all might be McDavid's meltdown after last year's Game 3, especially since in hindsight we know it almost worked. Bottom line: I'm hesitant to rank this pairing as number one, since I'm a bit wary of recency bias and we still don't know how this year's series will end. But it's already way up the list, and we could be a few days from it moving up even further. First matchup: It came in 2008, with the veteran Red Wings holding off the up-and-coming Penguins in six games. Second matchup: The rematch came one year later, and this time the Penguins did just enough to flip the script, winning in seven. Were they classics?: They were borderline at the time, and I'd argue they only look better with a bit of distance and some historical context. Star power: Plenty, with the Red Wings still having Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk while the Penguins had Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang coming into their primes. Mix in the fun Marian Hossa factor, and even Dominik Hasek sitting on the Wings bench, and it feels like a snapshot of hockey history. Controversy: Aside from the usual questions about close calls, there wasn't much aside from a weird mix-up in one of the handshake lines. Most memorable moment: Fleury robbing Lidstrom in the dying seconds of Game 7 might be the single greatest ending to a Stanley Cup Final ever. Bottom line: It doesn't get much better than this. But check back in a few days. (Photo of Brad Marchand and Mattias Ekholm: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
CNN
38 minutes ago
- CNN
Lewis Hamilton ‘so sad' after hitting groundhog during Canadian Grand Prix as George Russell claims win
When seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered damage to his car during the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, the cause wasn't initially clear. The Ferrari driver, who had started fifth on the grid, knew something had happened after suddenly losing pace early in the race but was only later told that he had hit a groundhog. The impact with the animal had damaged the floor of Hamilton's car which cost the 40-year-old around half a second per lap, resulting in a sixth placed finish. But speaking after the race, Hamilton – a vegan and animal rights activist – appeared more upset by the collision than the result. 'I didn't see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog, so that's devastating,' he told Sky Sports. 'I love animals, so I'm so sad about it. It's horrible. It's never happened to me here before.' Groundhogs are common at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, but it was nevertheless frustrating for Hamilton who ended up nowhere near the front of the race. Instead, it was a lonely Grand Prix for the Ferrari driver who also suffered problems with the car's brakes. 'It was feeling pretty decent until (hitting the groundhog). I got a good start, held position, and I was holding onto the group. I was managing the tires well. I was feeling optimistic,' Hamilton added. 'Given that, then we had a brake issue halfway through (the race) as well, then we stayed out probably too long in the first stop, came out behind traffic and it went from one thing to another, so I'm grateful that I could just finish, particularly with the brake issue I had and bag those points.' Meanwhile, fellow Brit George Russell had a far more positive experience in Montreal, claiming his first race win of the season. The Mercedes driver had started on pole and held the advantage for much of the race, holding off Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the process – the Dutchman was content with his second-placed finish. The pair have locked horns continually this season, but it was Russell who got the better of their fierce rivalry on Sunday. Russell's Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli also finished third in what was a brilliant day for the team. 'It's amazing to be back on the top step,' Russell said after the win. 'To get the victory and see Kimi (Antonelli) on the podium, too, is an amazing day for the team. I think it shows the strength of our cars in the cooler conditions, so let's see in the coming races.' The race, though, will likely be remembered for the pair of McLaren cars colliding during the final stages. Lando Norris attempted multiple times to overtake teammate Oscar Piastri with four laps remaining, going wheel-to-wheel in a tense exchange. The battle ended up with Norris making contact with Piastri's rear-tire, causing him to crash into the wall, ending his own race. Piastri also suffered damage to his car but managed to pit during the subsequent safety car lap and hold onto fourth place. 'I'm sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me,' Norris could be heard saying over the team radio straight after the collision. He later told Sky Sports that there was 'no one to blame but myself.' 'I apologize to the whole team and to Oscar (Piastri) as well for attempting something probably a bit too silly,' he added. The two McLarens are currently first and second in the F1 driver's championship, with Piastri widening the gap between himself and teammate Norris to 22 points after Sunday's incident. Speaking after the race, though, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was less than impressed with that accident. 'We never want to see a McLaren car involved in an accident and definitely not contact between our two cars,' he said. 'This is a situation we know is not acceptable. At the same time, we appreciate that Lando immediately owned it.' Drivers will now head to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix on June 29.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
The Best Men's Queen's Club Finals From Becker to Murray
After qualifier Tatjana Maria won the first WTA Queen's Club tournament for 52 years on Sunday, the ATP 500 event in West Kensington, London returns from June 16. The venue's Centre Court is named after Andy Murray, one of many Grand Slam champions who have won the men's Queen's Club title over the years. There's a $538,000 prize for the 2025 champion. John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Ivan Lendl, Lleyton Hewitt and Pete Sampras are just some of the other legendary champions of this prestigious pre-Wimbledon grass court event. Here are five of the best ever finals. Boris Becker had already won two Wimbledons and a Queen's Club title by the time he entered the West London event in 1987. The German was a big favorite against a 34-year-old Jimmy Connors. 'The Brash Basher of Belleville' was without a tournament win for over two years. However, Connors had other ideas and returned the 19-year-old's serve superbly, taking the first set tiebreak and then having chances to go a double break up in the second before losing 7-6, 3-6, 4-6. 'For one-and-a-half sets today, I could not get my timing. Jimmy was running around better than I was, even though he could almost be my father,' said the German. Connors took out his frustration a fortnight later against Mikael Pernfors in a match for the ages at Wimbledon, coming back from 1-6, 1-6, 1-4 to win in five. Becker showed more vulnerabilities on serve, losing to Australian Peter Doohan in the second round as his efforts to win a third consecutive SW19 title ended. Home favorite Tim Henman threatened to win Queen's in the late 1990s. His nemesis, Pete Sampras, stood in the way. Henman was an old-fashioned grass court expert who bore the pre-Murray pressure of trying to win Wimbledon with a British stiff upper lip. He outlasted 'Pistol Pete' in a first set tiebreak to raise the crowd volume but lost the second 6-4. Sampras was without a tournament victory in 1999 and Henman had three break points at 2-1 in the final set to expose that weakness. He missed them and the second seed prevailed to claim a second Queen's Championshi . This injected new life into Sampras who went on a 24-match winning streak, a run that included his sixth Wimbledon title in seven years. He beat Henman in the semifinals on Independence Day. Andy Murray won five Queen's Club Championships from 2009 to 2016, the year he finally became world No. 1. The Scot was denied the normal weekend trophy lift after Sunday's play was washed out. In the spirit of the 2001 Wimbledon final between Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter, a capacity Monday crowd came to fill the seats with 1,000 watching on a big screen outside too. The Frenchman had disposed of Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and took the first set 6-3, diving around like a 1980s Boris Becker. Murray fought back by winning the next on the tiebreak. The two finalists tussled in a tight third and Murray got his way when he finally broke the Frenchman's serve. He even had time for a tweener at the net at 5-3 up. "This has been one of the most fun weeks I've had on the tour. I've loved it,' said the British No. 1 afterwards. Murray showed his Slam credentials by making it to the Wimbledon semifinals the following month. Two years later, he lifted the Wimbledon crown. One big name missing from the roll call of Queen's Club winners is Novak Djokovic. The Serb hadn't played at the event for eight years when he accepted a wild card invite in 2018 to try and get some confidence going before Wimbledon. Number one seed Marin Cilic, who Roger Federer beat in the Australian Open final that year, was waiting. Djokovic's form was in a funk coming into the tournament and he left rather despondent after a titanic match which was a shade under three hours. Djokovic appeared on course after claiming the first set 7-5 and then going 4-1 up in the second set tiebreak. Everything unravelled thereafter as the 12-time major champion became indecisive, opening the door for Cilic to power through and claim the third 6-3. This was the Croat's second Queen's Club title, one that he had to work much harder for than the 2012 edition when opponent David Nalbandian was disqualified for inadvertently injuring a linesman. Feliciano Lopez was a regular at Queen's Club and had been desperately close to winning the trophy after having a match point against Grigor Dimitrov in 2014. The 35-year-old Spaniard was playing Marin Cilic who would go all the way to the final at Wimbledon a month later. Lopez had fully deserved his spot in the final after beating Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Dimitrov in the previous rounds. Despite losing a tight first set 6-4, Lopez strode away with a second set tiebreak. Both men were playing tennis of such high quality that they were broken only once all week. The deciding set was destined to be another shootout and it was an epic as Lopez edged it 10-8. He became the oldest winner of the Queen's Club Championship in the professional era. Lopez broke that record himself when he secured a second title two years later at the age of 37. He also won the doubles alongside Murray which started barely half an hour after his singles win. The Queen's Club Championships is one of the best ATP 500 events out there and gets the juices flowing for the only major still on grass. Carlos Alcaraz won Queen's in 2023 and then followed it up with his maiden Wimbledon crown. Can the Spaniard repeat the double and make it six out of six majors?
