Categories
Hockey Feed

Wayne Gretzky goes above and beyond for family that lost son in 9/11.

They call #99 “The Great One” for his outstanding play out on the ice, but we may soon have to change that name to “The Greatest One” thanks not to Wayne Gretzky the player, but Wayne Gretzky the man.

Over the weekend Gretzky joined the Spittin Chiclets crew during their broadcast of the FDNY vs NYPD hockey game, no doubt in an effort to help promote an event that puts the spotlight right on first responders. Being that the event was between a pair of teams based out of New York, Wayne Gretzky was asked to retell a famous story related to a family that lost their son during the tragic events of 9/11.

Gretzky would go on to share a story about how he met a family one day by the pool, a chance meeting that would forever change the contents of his wallet.

“Janet and I happened to be in Vegas for a charity event and they were sitting by the pool… sort of a family get together,” revealed Gretzky over the weekend. “I kinda walked by and they said ‘Are you Wayne?’ and I said yeah and they said ‘We had a son that tragically passed in 9/11 and here’s his picture,’ and they gave me his card and I said I’ll keep it in my wallet for life.”

It was a very nice thing for Gretzky to do and say, but surely no one would hold him to the impossible standard of keeping a photograph of a man he had never met, and would never meet, in his wallet forever?

Well according to Gretzky, a full decade later, he ran into friends of that very same family when he was once again in Las Vegas and what happened when they met will leave you in awe of Wayne Gretzky the man.

“10 years later I was in Vegas again for another event,” continued Gretzky “and friend’s of their family said ‘Can we ask you a question, do you still have that picture of our friend? Their family told us you were gonna have it in your wallet.’ I said yeah, and I pulled my wallet out and I still had the picture. I said I promised the family I would never lose it, I would keep it forever.”

Perhaps even more impressive than Gretzky’s unbelievable act of kindness was the completely humble and matter-of-fact matter in which he repeated the story. It was clear that Wayne did not want any kind of recognition for the gesture, although he certainly deserves it.

“You know what? Everyone went through a hard time,” said Gretzky. “For me to keep a little keepsake like that is special to me.”

The Great One ladies and gentlemen.

Categories
Hockey Feed

Wayne Gretzky will be angry if Bruins collapse in playoffs!

Despite fans and pundits expecting them to begin a downward slant and take a considerable backward step this season, the Boston Bruins have taken those predictions and tossed them into the Atlantic Ocean. They’ve already clinched the President’s Trophy as the top team in the National Hockey League will several games left remaining on the regular season schedule, and have also set a handful of new records. 

And as such, they’re easily considered the favorite to be raising Lord Stanley’s Cup when it’s all said and done later this year. But what are the chances that something completely unexpected takes place in the opening round of the postseason, as the 62 win Tampa Bay Lightning found out against the last-seeded Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019? 

While the odds of that happening remain as slim as ever, that’s the great thing about the Stanley Cup Playoffs – anything can happen. And there will be one particular well known member of the hockey community who won’t be pleased if Boston isn’t the last team standing. You may have heard of him, his name is Wayne Gretzky.

“In ’71 there was eight teams I guess that it was with Bobby Orr, Esposito, Cheevers, there was eight teams that they could beat, six in the west, and Toronto and Detroit weren’t very good, so eight of the 12 teams, and they didn’t get 62 wins,” Gretzky explained. “This team is playing a good hockey club every single night. There’s no days off; there’s no nights off, every game is hard. What they’re doing to me in this year is absolutely amazing.”

“Listen, it’s almost like you feel bad for them if they don’t win the Stanley Cup because they’ve done so many good things for the game, and they’ve played so unselfishly, and they’re so much fun to watch, you know, you almost feel mad if they don’t win the Stanley Cup.”

Strong words from the Great One!