February 29

In 1996, Wayne Gretzky scored his first goal as a member of the St. Louis Blues in a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Canucks.

February 27

In 1996, Gretzky is traded to the St. Louis Blues for Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat a 5th round draft choice and a 1st round draft choice.

February 26

In 1986, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scored two goals and added four assists as the Oilers won 8-2 against the Jets, at Winnipeg.

February 25

In 1991, Wayne Gretzky, along with Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall and comedic actor John Candy, purchased the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League

February 24

In 1980, Edmonton rookie Wayne Gretzky became the first player in NHL history to score 100 points in a season prior to his 20th birthday. His 100th career point came as an assist in just his 61st career game, a 4-2 Oilers' loss to the Bruins.

****

In 1982, Gretzky beat Don Edwards of the Buffalo Sabres for his 77th goal of he season, breaking Phil Esposito's single season record of 76 goals. He would add two more goals that night for his 9th hat trick of the season and 15th of his career. In addition, Gretzky would also add two assists for a five point night as the Oilers extended their team-record undefeated streak to 6 straight (4-0-2) with a 6-3 win.

****

In 2002, organized by team Executive Director Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada would win their first Olympic gold medal in 50 years in Salt Lake City with a 5-2 win over the United States.

February 23

In 1983, playing in his 302nd career game, Wayne Gretzky scored two goals and an assist, to give him 250 career NHL goals. The milestone came in a 6-3 Oilers' win over the Capitals in Edmonton.

February 22

In 1984, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scored four goals (and an assist) for his 10th hat trick of the season, tying his own NHL record set in 1981-82. Oilers won 9-2 over the Penguins at Pittsburgh. It was Gretzky's second four goal game in two days.

February 21

In 1984, Wayne Gretzky scored four goals for his 27th career hat trick and had an assist as the Oilers past St. Louis, 6-5.

February 20

In 1972, Wayne Gretzky's brother Brent Gretzky was born.


February 19

In 1982, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scored his eighth hat trick of the season (and the 14th of his career) and added two assists in the Oilers' 7-4 win over the visiting Hartford Whalers.

****

In 1980, Edmonton rookie Wayne Gretzky played against Hartford's Gordie Howe for the fourth (and final) time in their NHL careers, when the Whalers beat the Oilers 6-2 at Hartford. Both players went scoreless in the game.

February 18

In 1981, Wayne Gretzky tied an NHL record with four goals in one period, the third, in a 9-2 win over St. Louis.

****
In 1989, Gretzky scores seven points on two goals and five assists to reach 1,800 career points in a game against the Quebec Nordiques.

February 17

In 1982, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scored two goals and added three assists as the Oilers won 7-4 over the visiting Minnesota North Stars.

****

In 1990, the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky scored two goals and added three assists as the Kings won 7-1 over the visiting Quebec Nordiques.

****

In 1993, the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky registered his 91st career game with 5 or more points in a 10-5 win over the host Minnesota North Stars.

****

In 2001, Two days after taking over as part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, Wayne Gretzky named Cliff Fletcher as the team's new General Manager, replacing Bobby Smith. At the time of the firing, the Coyotes had a record of 27-17-12-2.

February 16

In 1967, Wayne Gretzky's younger brother Keith Gretzky was born.

February 15

In 1980, Edmonton rookie Wayne Gretzky picked up seven assists in an 8-2 win over Washington to tie the NHL record for most assists in a game. The original mark was set by Detroit's Billy Taylor in a game at Chicago in March 1947.

****

In 1985, Gretzky again tied the NHL record set by Billy Taylor in 1947, with seven assists in one game in a 8-7 loss to the New York Rangers. It was his second career seven assist game.

****

In 1999, Wayne Gretzky picked up five assists in the Rangers' 7-4 win against the Predators at Nashville to take a 1,000 point lead over Gordie Howe, the NHL's second all-time leading scorer.

****

In 2001, Gretzky becomes the managing partner and alternate governor with the Phoenix Coyotes.

February 14

In 1981, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky overtook L.A.' s Marcel Dionne in the 1980-81 scoring race, and went on to win the Ross Trophy (as the NHL's top scorer) in the 1980-81 season -- and each of the next six years.

****

In 1986, Gretzky tied his own NHL record, shared with Billy Taylor, with seven assists in one game in a 8-2 win over the Quebec Nordiques. It was his third career seven assist game.

****

In 1994, Wayne Gretzky picked up two assists to record a 100-point season for the 14th time in his career (extending his NHL record) as the Kings lost 3-2 to the Bruins at the Forum.

February 13

In 1998, Gretzky plays in his first Olympic hockey game when Canada defeats Belarus 5-0.

February 12

In 1982, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scored his 70th goal of the season and added pair of assists in a 5-3 Oilers win over the Washington Capitals to tie an NHL record with his 153rd point of the season.

****

In 1989, Wayne Gretzky scored a hat trick to lead the Kings to a 6-2 win against Blackhawks at Chicago. It was Gretzky's 45th career hat trick, most by any player in NHL history.

****

Gretzky's hat trick also allowed him to set a record with his 10th season of 40 goals or more.

February 11

In 1998, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scored a goal and two assists to give him 101 points, making 1987-88 his ninth 100+ point season, a new NHL record. Marcel Dionne held the old mark of eight 100+ point years.

****

In 1994, Wayne Gretzky scored two goals and added three assists to lead the Kings to a 5-3 win over the Mighty Ducks at Anaheim.

February 8

In 1983, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky set an All Star Game record with four goals (all in the third period), as the Campbell Conference All Stars won over the Wales 9-3 at Nassau Coliseum. Gretzky won the MVP honors.


In 1991, the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky began a team-record 23 game assist streak as Los Angeles tied 4-4 with the Sabres, at Buffalo.

February 7

In 1989, the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky was named the MVP at the 40th NHL All Star Game in Edmonton. He scored a goal and had two assists as the Campbell Conference defeated the Wales Conference, 9-5.

February 6

In 1981, Wayne Gretzky scored a natural hat trick (the 4th of his career) and added three assists for his 100th point of the season (for the second straight) year as the Oilers won 10-4 over the visiting Winnipeg Jets.

****

In 2000, Wayne Gretzky's sweater #99 was officially retired permanently by the NHL, in a pre-game ceremony before the 2000 All-Star Game in Toronto.

February 5

In 1980, Wayne played in his first NHL All-Star Game in Detroit.

February 4

In 1987, Wayne Gretzky scored his 50th goal of the season, to lead the Oilers to a 6-5 win over the North Stars at Minnesota. It was Gretzky's eighth straight 50 goal season.

****

In 1989, Wayne Gretzky scored his first hat trick as a member of the L.A. Kings, and added an assist in a 5-3 Kings' victory over Buffalo. His 3 goals came on just one official shot on goal. One was knocked in by an opponent, and the 3rd was awarded by the ref when the net was intentionally dislodged.

****

In 1999, Wayne Gretzky scored his 1,071st goal, tying him with Gordie Howe for total career goals in the NHL and the WHA, as the Rangers won 8-4 against the visiting Vancouver Canucks.

February 2

In 1973, Wayne scored his 700th goal in organized hockey in the final game of a Kingston, Ontario tournament at age 12.

****

In 1989, Gretzky scores a goal and has two assists in the 1989 NHL All-Star Game played in Edmonton and is named the game's MVP.

February 1

In 1980, rookie Wayne Gretzky scored his first career hat trick and added an assist to lead the Oilers to a 9-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. It came in Gretzky's 50th NHL game.
 

counter on blogger