The Great One and His Great Impact.
Wayne Gretzky. Regardless if you follow hockey, you most likely will recognize that name.
Arguably the greatest hockey player the NHL has ever seen, holding 61 records in total, Wayne Gretzky still holds a place in fans’ hearts as well. Which could be seen during Tuesday night’s Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers game.
Eighteen years since Gretzky last laced up his skates, he is still a prominent face of the NHL. His jersey, number 99, has been retired throughout the entire league, and can be seen hanging in the Staples Center, home of the Kings, a team he played for from 1988–1996.
Before his days in sunny Los Angeles however, Gretzky first established his destined legacy with the Oilers.
Gretzky played for the Oilers from 1979–1988, leading the team to four Stanley Cup Championships. Though his playing days are over, Gretzky is once again a member of the Oilers team, this time not as their center, but as the vice chairmen of the Oilers Entertainment Group.
Gretzky was in the stands during Tuesday night’s match between two of his former teams, not only in person, but on the backs of people’s jerseys as well.
The most beloved figure in NHL history, and his influence in hockey’s culture is still apparent.
Though orange and blue are probably the colors that hockey fans first picture Gretzky in, Oilers jerseys were not the only ones to feature the legendary player’s name on its back.
The number of Gretzky Kings jerseys rivaled that of their Oilers counterparts. Even the Kings organization itself, prominently advertises their love for their former player.
Even though Gretzky is part of the organization the Kings were playing Tuesday night, it did not stop them from showing as much love to Gretzky as if he were still skating in black and silver.
On the jumbotron, where the Kings play their promotional media to pump up the crowd, Gretzky was the leading man in the nostalgic past and present player videos.
In fact, it seemed as if he was featured more than current Kings players were.
Gretzky unfortunately did not get a chance to lead the Kings to a Stanley Cup victory, so why is he so beloved and utilized by the organization?
The answer is as simple as slapping a puck with a stick. Gretzky put hockey on the jumbotron for Southern California.
Prior to Gretzky’s trade to the Kings, hockey was not a sport residents of Southern California flipped their television channels to. After his arrival however, football helmets became hockey helmets in children’s bedrooms.
With the best player in the NHL on their team, the Kings began selling out tickets to their games for the first time, a feat which is still being met in 2016.
Tuesday’s game boasted a sellout as well, with 18,230 in attendance. That is the 211th regular season sellout, and the 244th consecutive sellout.
Hockey culture in the state of California also benefited from Gretzky being in Los Angeles, with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the San Jose Sharks being added to the NHL.
Thousands of California hockey fans have Gretzky to thank for their favorite sport and teams now available on the west coast. You don’t need to shovel snow in the winter to be a hockey fan today.
Gretzky is a former athlete that is still deeply ingrained in the sport he partook in. The only other professional athlete that comes to mind, that maintains that sort of relationship, is Magic Johnson. Johnson, still a face of his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now a part of the Oilers organization in a board room rather than locker room role, Gretzky hopes he can help bring another championship to Edmonton.
During his reveal as vice chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group in 2016, Gretzky had this to say about his wishes for his new career,
“I hope one day I’m a part of a Stanley Cup team again.”
The Oilers, who are headed to the playoffs April 12th to compete for a championship title, may just be the team to give Gretzky his wish.
After all the wonders Gretzky has done for the sport of hockey, the least the Oilers can do is make him a champion once again.
Dina Colunga is a writer whose words can be found at The Unprofessionals, The Coffeelicious, and Reign of Troy. Connect with her on Twitter @alwayscompete, and Instagram @dinatrojan.
