Two things stood out for me from the 1991 Canada Cup. The first was the arrival of Eric Lindros. The other thing was the emergence of the United States as a new rival. The Russians were quiet that year, but Team USA gave us all we could handle. That’s me looking to pass around my future teammate and good friend Brian Leetch. By the time the 1996 World Cup rolled around, the Americans were ready to take us on. And they wanted to show it. Here Keith Tkachuk squares off against Claude Lemieux in the opening seconds of our first game against them. Canada won Game One of the three-game final, but the United States beat us in the next two to claim the title.
There will always be a spot for Dave Semenko and Marty McSorley on my team. They were good teammates, and they could play the game—they weren’t just out there to fight. The role of the tough guy is changing, and fighting won’t be in the league forever. But hockey is a rough game, and it’s not easy to create space out there. So guys like Jarome Iginla, who combine toughness and skill, are never going to disappear.
You always want to win, whenever you step on the ice. But respect for your opponents is part of the game. When the L.A. Kings ran into the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1993 conference final, both teams gave absolutely everything. We won in Game Seven, but to this day the performances of Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark stand out as some of the most inspirational playoff hockey I’ve ever seen. In the end, we fell short against the Montreal Canadiens in the final, and I have to respect that too.
It’s harder to win the Stanley Cup now than it has ever been, and harder still to build a dynasty under the salary cap. Those Montreal, New York, and Edmonton dynasties are probably a thing of the past. The closest we may come are the perennially elite teams, like the Blackhawks and Penguins, who manage to hold on to core players like Toews, Kane, and Keith, and Crosby, Malkin, and Letang. But I’ve still got a soft spot for Edmonton, and anyone who has seen Connor McDavid play knows it will be hard to stop him.
On the day of Gordie Howe’s funeral, I heard someone say, “There were only three players who could turn a hockey arena into a cathedral—Jean Béliveau, Maurice Richard, and Gordie Howe.” We have some special players in the league today, but I don’t think we will ever see players who could lift their whole teams on their backs like that again. I am just glad that when I met my idol, he was even greater than I dreamed he would be.
No hockey player, no matter how good he is, accomplishes anything alone. We’ve all got teammates, and coaches, and all kinds of other people who help out. But family is most important of all. I wouldn’t have got far without my parents, and I can’t even imagine my life without Janet. I wouldn’t be here without you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is dedicated to my amazing wife of nearly thirty years, Janet Jones Gretzky. Without her nothing would be possible, especially our wonderful children—Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, Emma, and our more recent additions, Dustin and Tatum.
I want to thank all our extended family for being there for the highs and lows of this amazing journey together. My mom and dad have been there from the very beginning, and I would not be the son, brother, father, or husband I am today without their love, support, and guidance every step of the way. Also my grandparents, Harold and Betty Hockin, and Tony and Mary Gretzky, who were always there for our family, and my mother-in-law, Jean, who has always been a shoulder to lean on and the most wonderful grandmother to all of our children. My brother Glen has been a constant at my side, always there to bounce an idea off of or provide another way to look at things—as have my brothers Brent and Keith.
I would like to thank my partner through this process, Kirstie Day, who shepherded this idea from just an idea to a book that I am really proud of. Kirstie and I would like to thank the following people for all of their help with the elaborate, sometimes grueling, but incredibly rewarding process of getting a book produced and written:
Clara Gerzon, my right hand and chief financial officer at WDG Enterprises, my agent Ira Stahlberger from WME | IMG and his wonderful associate Janelle Miller, Jay Mandel from WME’s literary division, Alicia Glekas Everett of WME Business Affairs, and Lauren Shonkoff, Jay’s terrific assistant. Kirstie’s content team: contributing writer and editor Larry Day, chief researcher Kaitlyn Kanygin, hockey expert and fact checker Ron Wight, Julie Sinclair, Steve McLellan, and Max Sinclair, as well as Len Glickman from Cassels Brock Lawyers.
From Penguin, Nick Garrison, our editor, who worked so tirelessly on this book and whose boundless determination brought the initial idea to life, publisher Nicole Winstanley, who stepped up for us at crucial moments, president Kristin Cochrane, and David Ross, Justin Stoller, and Liz Lee, all of whom threw themselves into the painstaking work of ensuring that it all came together.
Special thanks go out to good friend Kevin Lowe, Eddie Mio and Bob Nicholson, Don Metz and Tom Braid with Oilers Entertainment Group. Thanks to my friend and confidant Mike Barnett, too. Also Bruce Bennett, Andy Moog, Craig Patrick, Scotty Bowman, Ernie Hicke, Lee Fogolin, Bill Torrey, Morris Lukowich, Serge Savard, Joe Pelletier, and Tom Webster, as well as:
Kathy Bailey
Charles Barkley
Red Berenson
Craig Campbell and the Hockey Hall of Fame
Steve Carlson
Dana Carvey
Ron Chipperfield
Kim Clackson
Bobby Clarke
Cam Connor
Ronald Corey
Jimmy Craig
Joe Daley
Shane Doan
Peter Driscoll
Dave Dryden
Theoren Fleury
Kerry Fraser
Mike Gartner
Blake Geoffrion
Danny Geoffrion
Marlene Geoffrion
Tony Granato
Randy Gregg
Glenn Hall
Al Hamilton
Craig Hartsburg
Kelly Hrudey
Pat Hughes
Dick Irvin Jr.
Curtis Joseph
Red Kelly
Ed Kirrane
Jack Kirrane
Paula Kirrane
Adam Kostis
Mike Krushelnyski
Jari Kurri
Brian Leetch
Claude Lemieux
Ken Linseman
Ron and Cari MacLean
Kevin McClelland
Wendy McCreary and the NHL Alumni
Bill McCreary Jr.
Bruce McNall
Marty McSorley
Barry Melrose
John Mio
Rennie Mio
Larry Murphy
Bearcat Murray
John Muckler
Lou Nanne
Bernie Nicholls
Jim Nill
Terry O’Malley
Willie O’Ree
Dean Patrick
Jamie Belo Patrick
Carey and Jerry Price
Brian Propp
Doug Risebrough
Jerry Rollins
Terry Ruskowski
Joe Sakic
Glen Sather
Fred Sasakamoose
Ken Schinkel
Eddie Shack
Dave Semenko
Jay Sinclair
Brent Sutter
Mike Vernon
Julie Folk Woldu
PHOTO CREDITS
Howie Morenz: Le Studio du Hockey/Hockey Hall of Fame
With Barnett, Béliveau, Hull, Howe, and Esposito: Donna Connor Photography
Paul Kariya: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Eddie Shore with Red Sutton: Le Studio du Hockey/Hockey Hall of Fame
Bobby Orr: Portnoy/Hockey Hall of Fame
Paul Coffey: O-Pee-Chee/Hockey Hall of Fame
The Nor
thern Fusiliers: Hockey Hall of Fame
The Kraut Line: Imperial Oil – Turofsky/Hockey Hall of Fame
Gretzky passing puck over Ray Bourque’s stick: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Georges Vezina: Hockey Hall of Fame
Grant Fuhr: Paul Bereswill/Hockey Hall of Fame
Maurice “Rocket” Richard: Bettmann/Getty Images
Rangers retirement: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
Frank Nighbor: Hockey Hall of Fame
Stan Mikita with Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull: Hockey Hall of Fame
Pavel Datsyuk: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Squaw Valley victory, 1960: Courtesy of UPI
Lake Placid victory, 1980: AP Photo
Tex Rickard: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-20962
Lester Patrick: Courtesy of Jamie Patrick
Jack Kent Cooke: Herald Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
With Peter Pocklington at trade press conference: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
Jacques Plante: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. no. 1987-129, PA-195211
Howie Morenz receiving stitches: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Brendan Shanahan: AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker
Boston Bruins in practice sweaters: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Dick Irvin: Hockey Hall of Fame
Punch Imlach: Richard Holborn, Archives of Ontario, I0005427
Gordie Howe with the Red Wings: Courtesy of the Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, Detroit Public Library
Gordie Howe with his sons, Marty and Mark: Dick Darrell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
With Gordie Howe: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Lou Fontinato: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Glenn Hall: Frank Lennon/Getty Images
Ted Lindsay: Bettmann/Getty Images
Marcel Dionne: Paul Chinn, Herald Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
Jean Béliveau: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Young Gretzky with Jean Béliveau: ©Archives/Journal de Québec
Playing with Gordie Howe: Bill London/Hockey Hall of Fame
Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr: Chris Relke/Hockey Hall of Fame
The Soviets’ KLM Line: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Willie O’Ree: Post Media
Fred Sasakamoose: Hockey Hall of Fame
California Golden Seals: Portnoy/Hockey Hall of Fame
Kim Clackson with the Pittsburgh Penguins: Portnoy/Hockey Hall of Fame
Bill Goldsworthy with the Minnesota North Stars: Portnoy/Hockey Hall of Fame
Bobby Clarke: B. Bennett/Getty Images
“In the office”: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
In Vaughan Nationals sweater, 1975: CP Photo/The Globe and Mail
Bobby Hull with $1,000,000 check: CP Archive Photo
Flying to Edmonton: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
First game in Edmonton: Edmonton Journal/Post Media
Bobby Clarke celebrates with Bobby Hull, 1976 Canada Cup: Frank Prazak/Hockey Hall of Fame
With Guy Lafleur: Doug Griffin/Getty Images
Habs celebrating 1979 Stanley Cup victory: CP Photo/Charlie Palmer
Steve Yzerman raises the Stanley Cup with the Wings: Dave Sandford/Hockey Hall of Fame
With Dave Dryden and Brett Callighen: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
Mark Messier playing ping-pong: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
Kurri and Anderson with Campbell Bowl: Oilers Entertainment Group
With Dave Babych: Phil Hossack/Winnipeg Free Press
Playing against the Flames: David E. Klutho/Getty Images
Playing against the Islanders: Paul Bereswill/ Hockey Hall of Fame
Mark Messier and Joel Otto: David E. Klutho/Getty Images
1988 Oilers fourth Cup win: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
Michel Goulet, 1984 Canada Cup: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Glenn Anderson and Igor Larionov, 1987 Canada Cup: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Mario Lemieux, 1987 Canada Cup: B. Bennett/Getty Images
With Brian Leetch, 1991 Canada Cup: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Keith Tkachuk and Claude Lemieux, 1996 World Cup: J Giamundo/Getty Images
With Dave Semenko: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
With Marty McSorley: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Jarome Iginla: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Doug Gilmour: David E. Klutho/Getty Images
Wendel Clark and Marty McSorley: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Playing against the Canadiens: Paul Bereswill/Hockey Hall of Fame
The Chicago Blackhawks: B. Bennett/Getty Images
Sidney Crosby: Damon Tarver/CSM/REX/Shutterstock
With Connor McDavid: Andy Devlin/Getty Images
Gordie Howe: B. Bennett/Getty Images
With Walter Gretzky: Dennis Robinson/The Globe and Mail
Wayne and Janet: Edmonton Sun/Post Media
INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 136
Abel, Clarence “Taffy,” 21
Abel, Sid, 44, 83, 101, 109
Acton, Keith, 89
Adams, Charles (C.F.), 8, 20, 29, 30
Adams, Jack, 83, 108, 360
background, 41
and Howe, 110
impact on Red Wings, 41
methods of coaching, 42–43
recommended by Calder, 41
relations with Norris, 42
signs Howe, 102
Adams, Weston, 29
Adams Trophy, 41
Quinn awarded, 168
Allen, Keith, 190, 191, 192
All-Star Games
against HC Dynamo Moscow, 207, 208
Howe’s first, 111
Howe’s last, 112
inception of, 77
Orr’s first, 111
WG’s first, 112
Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, 57
Amonte, Tony, 279
Anderson, “Cowboy” Tom, 38
Anderson, Glenn, 144, 354, 361
Anderson, John, 325
Anisimov, Artem, 363
Apps, Syl, 70
Arbour, Al, 156–57, 323, 326, 329
Arbour, John, 157
arenas and rinks
backyard and outdoor, 5–6
Boston Garden, 27–28
Chicago Stadium, 41
Copps Coliseum, 265
effect of rink size on play, 27–28
ice in, 33
indoor ice, 15
longevity of Boston Arena, 31
Luzhniki Palace, 231
Maple Leaf Gardens, 40
modern amenities in, 32
Montreal Forum, 40
with natural ice, 8
Northlands Coliseum, 40
Olympia, 39–40, 42
WG’s affection for Maple Leaf Gardens, 265
Winnipeg Arena, 40
Armstrong, George, 126, 150
Art Ross Trophy, 29
Howe wins, 103
Mikita wins, 224
Richard misses, 86
Ashley, John, 157
Atlanta Flames, 321
Avco World Trophy, 216–17
Babando, Pete, 37
Babych, Dave, 88
Backstrom, Ralph, 213
Badali, Gus, 164, 212
Bailey, Bob, 84
Bailey, Garnet “Ace,” 32, 357
Bail
ey, Irvine Wallace “Ace,” 76–77, 78
Baldwin, Howard, 204
Ballard, Harold, 14, 365, 366
Barber, Bill, 311
Barilko, Bill, 37–38
Barnett, Mike, 87, 88–89
Baron, Murray, 319
Bassett, John, 164
Bathgate, Andy, 182
Bauer, Bobby, 48, 97, 100
Bauer, Father David, 208–9
Baumgartner, Ken, 139
Baun, Bob, 110–11
Beaudro, “Roxy” Rocque, 16
Belfour, Ed, 289, 319
Belisle, Wayne, 205
Béliveau, Jean, 78, 101, 118, 173, 215, 299–300, 373
Belleville Bulls, 163
Bellows, Brian, 160
Benn, Jamie, 36
Benoit, Joe, 82
Bergeron, Patrice, xiii–xiv
Berube, Craig, 368
Bettman, Gary, 365
Bickell, Jack, 24
Biekesa, Kevin, 371
Birmingham Bulls, 164
Blair, Wren, 161–63, 167
Blake, Rob, 143, 144, 285
Blake, Toe, 12, 49, 50, 82, 302
Bobrov, Vsevolod, 227
Bossy, Mike, 82, 252, 253, 254
hockey stick, 2
picked by Islanders, 324–25
skills, 324–25
wins Lady Byng, 72
Boston Bruins
defensemen on, 29
effect of smaller ice surface on, 28
Esposito traded to, 225
vs. Oilers (1988), 355–59
rivalry with Canadiens, 29, 49–50, 312
toughness of, 313
Boston Garden, 27, 31, 32
Boucher, Bill, 23
Boucher, Frank, 23, 30, 64, 69, 70, 102
Bourne, Bob, 253
Bourque, Ray, 29, 45–46, 60, 186, 260, 356
Bower, Johnny, 150
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