Wayne Gretzky, affectionately dubbed "The Great One," is universally regarded as the most outstanding hockey player in the history of the sport. At the conclusion of the 1998-1999 NHL season, he retired as the league's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, both in the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. During his illustrious career, he dominated the NHL scoring charts, leading the league in scoring a remarkable ten times. Gretzky's impressive resume includes serving as captain of four Stanley Cup-winning teams and being named the league's Most Valuable Player a record nine times.
Gretzky holds the distinction of being the only player in NHL history to achieve the feat of scoring 200 points in a single season, accomplishing this remarkable feat four times within a span of five years. As a symbol of his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for the game, he was honored as the NHL's Most Gentlemanly Player on four separate occasions. In 1998, he received the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honor, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport.
Upon his retirement in 1999, the NHL retired his iconic jersey number, 99, in a testament to his enduring legacy and unparalleled achievements on the ice.
