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The Great One
DCHP-2 (Jun 2016)
n. — Hockey, informal
a nickname for hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Although The Great One has been used for other famous figures in sports and entertainment, in Canada the nickname is strongly, and perhaps exclusively, associated with Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky is perhaps the most famous hockey player in Canadian history, and has been called a hockey prodigy. Gretzky holds or shares 61 NHL records, and his jersey number 99 has been retired league-wide by the NHL, an honour never accorded to any other player (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference). The Great One is emblematic of the Canadian zeal for hockey, as demonstrated by the Wayne Gretzky stamp (see the second 1999 quotation), his statue in Edmonton (see Image 1), and the emotional demonstrations upon his retirement (see, e.g., the 2013 quotation).
The term, when used in reference to Wayne Gretzky, is most prevalent in Canada, although Gretzky enjoyed a successful career in the US (see Chart 1).
The term, when used in reference to Wayne Gretzky, is most prevalent in Canada, although Gretzky enjoyed a successful career in the US (see Chart 1).
Note that the term is not used in jest.
Quotations
1981
The Great One just gets greater Despite record, Gretzky finds time to worry about tickets for girl friend.
1992
The Arsenal Pulp Press of Vancouver announces the publication of Quotations on the Great One, which follows closely on the heels of other such books - Quotations from Chairman Zalm (Bill Vander) and Quotations from Chairman Ballard (Harold). Since Wayne Gretzky doesn't say a lot of wildly provocative or amusing things, this book is "quotations on" rather than "quotations from." Examples: "I'm Phyllis Gretzky and I don't want you hurting Wayne in those corners tonight." - Wayne's mom to Bobby Hull. "Even if Gretzky is almost as cute as li'l Danny Quayle, hockey is just so tacky." - Sports writer Frank Deford. "I'd trade my whole team for the kid and I'd throw in the farm club, too." - Former Leaf owner Harold Ballard.
1999
In Ottawa, the House of Commons unanimously approved a motion Monday to create a Wayne Gretzky stamp. Liberal MP Sarkis Assadourian asked Canada Post to issue a commemorative stamp recognizing The Great One's contributions to hockey.
1999
From his backyard ice rink in Brantford, Ont., to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Wayne Gretzky has always had a special place in Canada.
Sports editors and broadcasters confirmed that by making The Great One a runaway winner as Canada's male athlete of the century.
Gretzky is a favourite for more than his exploits on the ice, however. For many, he embodies qualities Canadians like to think of as their own -- honesty, kindness and respectfulness to name just a few.
No. 99 lists Muhammad Ali and Babe Ruth as two athletes who transcended their sports. The same case can be made for Gretzky and his 61 NHL records.
1999
Bettman presented Gretzky with original score sheets from 30 games in which he set records. And then he finally did something that earned the crowd's applause.
"When you take your sweater off after today's game, that jersey, you will be the last player ever in the NHL to wear No. 99," Bettman told Gretzky. "You will always be the Great One. There will never be another. We will miss you and we thank you."
Gretzky spoke for a few moments, repeating the thank-yous he has said so many times in the past seven days. And then he returned to the Rangers bench and put on his helmet and wrist bands and gloves for his last game.
Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams sang the Canadian national anthem, replacing "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee" with "O Canada, we're going to miss you Wayne Gretz-ky."
2002
Who would have thought that one of Wayne Gretzky's greatest gifts to Canadian hockey would come with The Great One in the stands, wearing a suit and chewing on his nails?
Team Canada, a squad assembled by Gretzky over 15 months in the face of intense pressures, delivered an Olympic gold medal on Feb. 24, 2002 at the E-Center in Salt Lake City, ending a 50-year drought in Olympic men's hockey.
2013
Wayne Gretzky - holder of the Order of Canada as well as still holder of more hockey records than anyone in the world 14 years after leaving the game - will always have his homegrown critics but none, it seemed, were present the night of April 15, 1999, when, wearing the unnatural colours of the New York Rangers, "The Great One" played his very last NHL game in Canada.
He was 38 that spring night in Ottawa. He was still the best player on the ice even if he was, by his own admission, a mere shadow of the player who had once scored 92 goals in a single season and held a remarkable 61 NHL scoring records. He could easily have continued on.
"One more year!" the sellout crowd of 18,500 chanted in the final five minutes of the game. "One more year! One more year! One more year."
References
- The Canadian Encyclopedia • "Wayne Gretzky"
Images
Image 1: Statue of The Great One hoisting the Stanley Cup in Edmonton, by John Weaver. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: Aude
