“Hockey is a Silly Game”: Wayne Gretzky Took a Sly Dig at Maple Leafs Fans Following a Violent High-Stick Controversy in 1993

Sports fans have long exhaustive memories. Remembering an ice hockey match where some felt that Wayne Gretzky should have been penalized is stretching the fact not too far. The controversy took place during a game between the L.A. Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs dated the 25th of May 1993, before the Stanley Cup Finals. Talking about the entire controversy in 2018, Gretzky made a surprising admission. 

Gretzky tried to justify his unexpected action which led to controversy. Making a statement about Kerry Fraser who was the referee of the match, Gretzky narrated his point of focus while the controversy unfolded. Apparently, the consequences not only changed the game, but it also led to a drastic change in the Stanley Cup Finals. 

The unforgettable 1993 controversy featuring Wayne Gretzky 

This controversy began after L.A. Kings powerplay began in Game 6. During this powerplay, Gretzky hit such a hard shot toward the net that the puck hit Jamie Macoun and rebounded. At that time, Gretzky and another player named Douglas Gilmour reached for the puck.

However, when Gretzky made an attempt to get the puck and aimed at the nets, his stick hit Gilmour on the chin. After this, Gilmour hoped for a penalty for Gretzky. However, neither the referee Kerry Fraser nor Gilmour’s team members had noticed it. Gretzky also did not make any comments about the event during that game. Painfully for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was the L.A. Kings who won Game 6 as well as 7, and went on to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. 

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Talking about the controversy years later, Gretzky spoke about how the unexpected could happen in hockey. As per The Star, he remarked, “Hockey is a silly game.” Adding to this, he said that his focus during that game was “playing the best I could play.”  In his attempt to neutralize the controversy, he then expressed how Douglas was also trying to play his best.

Continuing, Gretzky explained, “By no means was anybody trying to hit anyone in the face or hurt anyone.”  He gave his perspective that he was just chasing the puck. He then finally admitted, “Obviously I nicked him.”  However, his admission is just rubbing salt on the Toronto Maple Leafs’s wounds who couldn’t play in the Stanley Cup final that year. 

Afterward, Gretzky admitted that he was aware of Fraser giving interviews about the controversy where the latter said that it was an honest mistake. While such a heated on-court controversy was making the rounds, what is not popularly known is the series of injuries that affected Gretzky’s performance months prior to the 1993 season.  

Wayne Gretzky’s lesser-known details about his injuries and performance 

Experiencing pain in the ribs, Gretzky was later told that it was because of a herniated disk in his back. Undergoing treatment and therapy, Gretzky’s hockey performance naturally suffered till he healed. The Great One was unable to score a goal for more than a month. However, 1993 turned out to be his comeback season!

“Everyone thought I’d died. Nobody expected me to be playing”, Gretzky remarked. Gretzky was able to prove all his critics wrong with his spectacular performance in the playoffs and Stanley Cup finals. Though the L.A. Kings faced a brutal defeat by the Montreal Canadiens, Gretzky scored highly and had 40 points. 

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Do you think Gretzky should’ve been penalized for hitting Douglas with his stick on the chin? Share your perspective in the comments section.