Who is your all time favorite Canadian hockey player? There are many great Canadian hockey players out there. One of them is Wayne Gretzky. Former National Hockey League (NHL) star Wayne Douglas Gretzky, was born on January 26th, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Gretzky was only two years, ten months when he skated on ice for the very first time. Playing hockey first in his backyard, than on minor teams, finally the NHL, and now a legend, defines him as a legendary hockey player. There are many reasons as to why Gretzky was known as “The Great One.” His goals, assists, and points in his NHL career, international play, and post retirement has made him a vital contributor into shaping Canada into what it is known as today. Firstly, in 1979 was when Gretzky’s NHL career took a start with the Edmonton Oilers. By 1984, the Stanley Cup was in his hands. Gretzky was named captain from 1983-1988. The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup four out of five times with Gretzky. The team made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1983, but got swept by the New York Islanders. However, in 1984 the Oilers came face to face with the New York Islanders in the Finals again, but this time they won the Stanley Cup. Oilers were also declared champions in the years 1985, 1987, and 1988. At the end, …show more content…
By setting records, earning awards, and his multiple achievements, it shows how he rightfully obtained his label as “The Great One.” His successes in hockey have led him to be a great representative for Canada and its sports culture. Because of him, Canada will forever be known as the country with the phenomenal hockey player. His inspirations of great hockey legends had motivated him to break even their records, such as Gordie Howe. Gretzky’s skills, strategies, and his playing career, defines him as an exceptional legend in Canadian [sports] history, which contributed in molding Canada into what it is
Maurice “Rocket” Richard, a legendary hockey player of the mid-twentieth century for the Montreal Canadiens, is recognized for his profound dedication and impact for the game of hockey. His influence, nevertheless, extends beyond hockey, especially for French Canadians in Quebec. As French-English relations in the province and in the National Hockey League were strained during the 1950s and 1960s, French Canadians looked to Richard as a culturally significant figure. While Maurice Richard himself would say that he was simply a hockey player, his effect on French Canadians impacted politics and culture in Quebec. This essay will argue that Maurice Richard’s identity as a French Canadian was in constant struggle within the English
History has framed the Miracle On Ice as one of those rare sporting achievements that transcend sport. The two hockey games that comprise the “miracle” – the 4-3 win over the mighty Soviets and the 4-2 gold medal clincher against Finland – are credited with lifting Americans from a decade of gloom and despair, reviving patriotism and foreshadowing a national renewal.
What would you say if I told you that hockey was no longer Canada's national sport? Although it seems that it is on a professional level, where the game and Canada has progressed to become bigger, faster and stronger than ever, this could not be less true compared to the game we all grew up loving. Yes, the game that many grew up on, playing minor hockey and developing lifelong friendships through countless hours on the ice has become less popular in recent years due to many reasons, one major one being cost. Through the alarming costs of equipment and minor hockey that are needed to play organized hockey, it is looking like Hockey is not so much Canada's national sport, but rather one played mostly by the rich.
“Sidney Crosby has the 4th Best points per game in NHL history. He has also won every possible individual and team award that can be won before the age of 25. Crosby makes the players around him better (kunitz and dupuis). Crosby is always improving and is good at many little things such as faceoffs, shootouts, and he always is a good all around player being defensively responsible and his plus minus demonstrates this.” Says a user from debate.org. Is Sidney Crosby still the best? It’s a yes or no question and there is many debates.
Maurice Richard historical significance in Canada had to do considerable deal with Hockey. Hockey is “closer to a religion than a simple sporting pastime” in Canada. It is “a unifying force” in a nation where one state wanted to separate from the rest of Canada. Nevertheless hockey has a major impact on the social, economic, cultural and political realms of Canada. In the 2014 Olympics, an alcohol law in bars was ignored when Canada was in the finals for the gold medal. In addition to People drinking at 5 o’clock in the morning, which would have been frowned upon in many social circles in any other circumstances. Maurice is “credited with raising the National Hockey League to major sport status”, he simply “sold the game” to French Canadians post great depression. You could say he stopped the National Hockey league from fading as teams were dropping every year out of the League due to being unable to be successful financially.
Hockey, a sport who’s premier league is the NHL. The NHL, over time has had its fair share of players who dominated the game. Some of these players were just “too good”. Examples of this are Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, and the Great one, Wayne Gretzky. Today, there are a lot of great players in the league, sadly to go down in history in any sport you need to be at the top of your time. In current days we see plenty of good, young players, who really contribute to the league but some of the older players who have established their name to everyone are the only ones who have really put themselves in the history books. Today I’m writing this article to talk about two players, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The two players are considered the
The most memorable moment in hockey history came thirty-four years ago with the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Americans defeating the dominant Soviet team at the Olympics was not only an important triumph for USA Hockey, but for the entire nation. Contrary to popular belief, the underdog win was not only the result of a miracle; it was also the result of a hard-working team led by Coach Herb Brooks. With increasingly negative views on the position of the United States in the Cold War, the Miracle on Ice and the gold medal win lifted the spirits of the nation and brought hockey into the American spotlight.
Another hockey great, who was purely Canadian, and proved his worth in the game of hockey, is the amazing Rocket Richard. He was known for his excellence, but was also just as well known for his great spirit and love for the game. He, as well as Gretzky, was given the honour of being among the best in the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1955, Richard was, without thought, suspended from the league, Canada, especially Montrealers, went into complete uproar, inducing numerous death threats upon the president Clarence Campbell, as well as what has been called the worst riot in Canadian sports history. This example really shows how dedicated Canadians are when backing up their own players, the ones they know are the best.
He then returned to Quebec for a second year in the QMJHL, scoring 66 goals and he was best young prospect in the world. Across North America Crosby earned similarities to some of
Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He began skating at just two years old and was playing with older boys by six years old. Spending extreme amounts of hours on the ice, he was skilled enough to score 378 goals in his final year of peewee hockey. When he was a teenager, he was chosen third in the 1977 Ontario Major Junior Hockey League Midget draft, and played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he was able to show his skills. He played for his home country in 1978, and led the entire tournament in scoring at the World Junior Championships that were hosted in Quebec City. In the fall of 1978, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the fledgling World Hockey Association.
Howe helped Detroit take home the Stanley cup four times in his career. He played a total of 1,767 games in his career all with the Detroit Red Wings, which was 1946-1971 which was 25 years. He spent a total of 1,685 minutes in the penalty box which is 101,100 seconds, and about 28 hours. That is equivalent to 28 games. They made a “Gordie Howe hat trick” which is a fighting penalty, a goal, and a assistant. Howe played in the NHL
He was the first and only hockey player to have his number retired league-wide. Number 99, Wayne Douglas Gretzky, was born on January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario. He is currently 54, married, with 5 kids and a grandchild. He married Janet Jones in the year of 1988. Gretzky is a hockey player who played 21 seasons in the NHL, playing 9 seasons for the Edmonton Oilers, 8 seasons for Los Angeles Kings, 1 for the St. Louis Blues and in his 3 final seasons, he played for the New York Rangers.
The Edmonton Oilers goalies are Cam Talbot and Laurent Brossoit. Cam Talbot joined the Oilers on June 27 2015. He played a bunch of games the next year, but the past year was when he really lit it up. He started the most games of any goalie (72) and won the most ever in franchise history with 42. He led the Oilers to the second round of the playoffs where they lost to the Ducks in 7 games. When they left the playoffs, he was leading the goalies with the most shutouts having three of them. There back up is Laurent Brossoit. He was traded to the Oilers from the Flames on November 8 2013 (Sbnation 2017). He has played 14 games in the NHL, starting 10 of them, and winning 4 of those starts (Sbnation 2017). So over all he is a young but capable NHL goalie.
From the moment Wayne Gretzky strapped on his first pair of skates at the age of two, he has been known as one of the best players ever to play in the National Hockey League and is known worldwide. Like many other professional hockey players, Gretzky was born in Canada, Ontario, Canada on January 26, 1961. At six years old, he was already playing hockey with older kids and when he played in peewee, he dominated. His final year of peewee, he scored an astonishing 378 goals. As Gretzky grew up, he continued to train and become one of the best in Canada for his age and also one of the best worldwide. After finishing his last season in mediocre competition, he was eventually drafted 3rd overall into the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League
Hold up let’s just take a moment to recognize that Wayne Gretzky was introduced into my life like he is coming onto a 90’s sitcom.