It was with the Greyhounds that Gretzky first wore the number 99 on his jersey. He originally wanted to wear number 9—for his hockey hero Gordie Howe—but it was already being worn by teammate Brian Gualazzi. At coach Muzz MacPherson's suggestion, Gretzky settled on 99.
Who wore 99 before Gretzky?
Joe Lamb, Desse Roche and Leo Bourgeault all played for and wore the # 99 for the Canadiens during the 1934-35 season. Joe Lamb was the first to wear it before he was traded, and then Desse Roche before he was traded, and then finally Bourgeault. The next two players who wore number 99 came much, much later.
Who has worn number 99 in the NHL?
Number 99
Since the 1950-51 season, only three players are in the number 99 club, Gretzky, Rick Dudley and Wilf Paiement.
When did Gretzky first wear 99?
Wayne Gretzky started wearing the No. 99 when numbers higher than 30 were almost unheard of for pro hockey players. Gretzky, while playing for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League in 1977-78, wanted No. 9 in honor of his idol, Gordie Howe.
Did the NHL retired number 99?
Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky retired from professional play after the 1998–99 season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999. His career totals include 2,857 points and 894 goals. The NHL retired his jersey number (99) after his final game.
25 related questions foundWho wore 00 in the NHL?
00 – John Davidson. Only two players have ever worn the double zeros in the NHL. John Davidson wore 00 for the New York Rangers during the 1977-78 season.
Why can no one wear 99 in NHL?
99 – The Great One
There is not much to say there, it is a sacred hockey number. Unless you are the Great One, this number is completely off limits to any hockey player anywhere in the known universe.
Who is the greatest hockey player ever?
Wayne Gretzky shattered long-standing records, notably scoring an unprecedented 894 goals. He also earned four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers (1984–85, 1987–88) and was named the NHL's MVP nine (!) times (1980–87, 1989).
What made Gretzky so good?
1. Versatility and athleticism: Gretzky was versatile in a demanding and rugged team sport. Hockey focuses on a myriad of athletic attributes—many of the same varied skills utilized, for the most part, by basketball, football and soccer players, widely considered among the best athletes.
Can you wear 0 in NHL?
Beginning with the 1996-97 season, the NHL decreed that Nos. 0 and 00 could no longer be worn since they confused the League's digital database; today, only No. 1 through No. 98 are allowed, No.
Can you wear 69 in the NHL?
Fun fact: Desjardins and forward Melvin Angelstad (two games with the Washington Capitals in 2003-04) are the only players in NHL history to wear No. 69.
Who wore 92 in the NHL?
92 -- Gabriel Landeskog. The skinny: Landeskog prevailed from a small but talented field at No. 92 (21 players have worn it). The winner of the Calder Trophy as the League's top rookie in 2011-12, Landeskog has scored at least 20 goals in seven of his nine NHL seasons, including a career-high 34 in 2018-19.
Who wears 87 in the NHL?
87. Perhaps the most identifiable number in the NHL today, the No. 87 has not been worn by many. In fact, other than Sidney Crosby, only Pierre Turgeon and Donald Brashear have worn it.
Is Gretzky the greatest hockey player of all time?
The only player in NHL history to record 200 points in a single season, Gretzky achieved the feat a whopping four times during his career. He holds the record for most goals in a single season with a mind-boggling 92 red lights, and also the record for the fastest to 50 goals in a season in a ridiculous 39 games.
Why did Mario Lemieux wear 66?
He went on to score 100 points that season and won the Calder Trophy for best rookie. It was inevitable that Lemieux would be compared with Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player of his day. Lemieux chose to wear number 66, a modest reference to Gretzky's 99.
Who is better Gretzky or Crosby?
The average NHL team had 366 power-play opportunities in 1990-91, which is 49.4 percent more than the 245 in 2016-17. According to Hockey-Reference.com, Gretzky was on the ice for 70 power-play goals that season, which is 61 percent more than Crosby, who was on for 43 last season.
Who was better Gretzky or Howe?
Wayne Gretzky on the legacy of Gordie Howe
Howe led the NHL in goals five times, was runner-up five times, and led the League in scoring six times. Howe won the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player six times and was a finalist six other times. Only Wayne Gretzky (nine) has won the Hart Trophy more often.
Was Mario Lemieux better than Gretzky?
Gretzky is widely regarded as the greatest player in NHL history and holds nearly every possible offensive record. Lemieux has the second-highest points-per-game rate in history and appeared in less than 1,000 games but remains one of the best to ever play.
What player has the most Stanley Cups?
In the National Hockey League (NHL), the player with the most Stanley Cups won of all time as of November 2021 was Henri Richard. The centre won 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens between 1955 and 1975.
Did Gretzky ever play in the olympics?
Gretzky played for Canada in Nagano in 1998, the first time NHL players went to the Olympics. He was executive director for Canada in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Turin in 2006.
Who wears #9 in the NHL?
9 because of all the great players who have worn it in NHL history, from legends of the past like Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard and Bobby Hull, to stars of the more recent past like Glenn Anderson, Mike Modano and Paul Kariya.
Can you wear 66 in the NHL?
No. 66 isn't retired League-wide like No. 99 is for Wayne Gretzky. Two players have worn it since Lemieux retired from the NHL in 2006: Ho-Sang and Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie in 2010-11.
Who wears 79 in the NHL?
The number 79 has only been worn by six players in NHL history, and the only other household name to wear it is Andrei Markov.
ncG1vNJzZmiZnKG8tsDFqKatmpGhuW%2BvzmespGeWlr5ww8eyZJ2hlGK0s7HTs6KyZZOdvLC%2FxGZwcg%3D%3D