The Gretzky File

Joins the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey Association. / Sets record for most assists (112) in a season by a rookie. 1977-78 1978-79 Signs with the World Hockey Association’s Indianapolis Racers: joins Edmonton Oilers after trade with Racers; wins rookie of the year. Ties for NHL lead in points with Marcel Dionne, who wins based on more goals Wins first of eight consecutive Hart Trophies as MVP. Wins first of seven consecutive scoring titles 1980-81 Scores 50 goals in 39 games; breaks Phil Esposito’s record of 76 goals in a season and finishes with 92 goals, 120 assists and 212 points. Leads Canada Cup scoring with 12 points 1981-82 The Record Player Wayne Gretzky departs the NHL after 20 seasons the proud owner of an amazing 61 records. Among the most notable are career and regular season marks for…

President says league still strong despite loss of teams

Throughout its 11-year existence, the East Coast League has grown in leaps and bounds nearly every year in becoming the largest professional minor league in North America. But with three teams suspending operations for next year and the addition of two expansion clubs, the ECHL will be down one for 19992000. It’s the first time the league has shrunk since it lost a team between the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. There are many who believe the ECHL has grown too quickly and this was inevitable. Don’t count Richard Adams, president and CEO of the league among them, however. “We’re disappointed that Miami and Chesapeake have not met the attendance figures that were anticipated,” Adams said. “They were the two bottom-rated teams in attendance. But there has been interest from outside ownership groups in purchasing those…

NHL ROASTER AND TRANSACTIONS

THN’s Millennium TIME CAPSULE

Without shedding so much as a tear, Wayne Gretzky-the greatest player of all-time-announced his retirement from the NHL after the New York Rangers’ final game April 18. Calling it a “gut call”, ’The Great One’ humbly thanked all the people he was associated with through the years and said he will not be associated with a team for at least one year, during which time he plans to spend time with his family. Gretzky started thinking of retirement earlier in the year and said no amount of pressure from others who wanted him to continue playing would sway him. The Hockey News is making a deposit each week to our Millennium Time Capsule to mark the final year of the millennium. This week THN deposits the NHL record book which Gretzky rewrote during…