Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26th , 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. As is well known he became the most known hockey player in Canada and for that matter the world, all by setting and breaking numerous records in the National Hockey League. The "Great One's" hockey career began in his own backyard where his father, Walter Gretzky, built him a homemade rink. It was here that Wayne began to hone his skills while he skated for hours on end and practiced his skating, passing, shooting and stickhandling skills. He learned everything about the game from his father including learning how to skate at just the age of five. Wayne began playing amateur hockey at the age of six with ten and eleven year olds. His hockey idol was the Detroit Red Wings" Winger Gordie Howe who wore number nine (Wayne wore ninety nine in the pros). Even though he only scored one goal in that first season he progressed drastically each season to the point where he was setting absurd records, like his 378 goal season in his last year of pee wee in Brantford.
At the age of fourteen Wayne felt it was time for a change. He was no longer happy playing in his hometown due to the increased pressure and jealousy of the hometown players in parents. He decided to move to Toronto and play for the Toronto Nats. The next year when Wayne turned sixteen he played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the major junior Ontario Hockey Association. That first and only full year in the league was a success as he finished second in the scoring race behind Bobby Smith while playing players as old as twenty. He also participated in the 1978 World Junior Championship in Quebec City, earning top centre honours and tournament scoring leader.
After his rookie season in the OHA Wayne was eager to make the jump to the NHL but was unable to because of the age restriction set in the league. Thinking it would not be beneficial to stay another three years in the OHA, Wayne decided to sign with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association.