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  2. BornJanuary 26, 1961 · Brantford, Ontario, Canada
    Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
    Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
    PositionCentre
    Early life

    Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, the son of Phyllis Leone (Hockin) and Walter Gretzky. The couple married in 1960, and lived in an apartment in Brantford, where Walter wor… See more

    World Hockey Association

    By 1978, the World Hockey Association, which had competed with the established NHL since 1972, was struggling. The league, which at one point iced fourteen teams, was down to seven surviving franchises. … See more

    NHL career

    Gretzky's success in the WHA carried over into the NHL, despite some critics suggesting he would struggle in what was considered the bigger, tougher, and more talented league.
    In his first … See more

    International play

    Gretzky made his first international appearance as a member of the Canadian national junior team at the 1978 World Junior Championships in Montreal, Quebec. The Canadian coach, Punch McLean, was originally s… See more