Wayne Gretzky Gave Each Teammate a Million-Dollar Gift Following His Final NHL Game in 1999

The day was the 18th of April, and the year was 1999. It was the day the Great One of the National Hockey League, Wayne Gretzky, was playing his last game. The legend of hockey was retiring. He played his last game in the sold-out Madison Square Garden. And Gretzky only made it more special via a special gesture toward his teammates.

And as it would be everyone’s guess, the gifts have now attained a distinct monetary status. With the cult following that Gretzky has, it is not a surprise at all.

Wayne Gretzky and his precious gifts

Gretzky and his team always had a remarkable bond. The support that Gretzky received from his team was unmatched. This is probably why Gretzky wanted to honor that by doing something for his teammates. After the emotional tornado that was his last game, Gretzky gifted each of his teammates a hockey stick from his side.

According to an article by The Hockey Beast, Wayne Gretzky signed each of the sticks that he presented to his teammates. He knew his signature would make them valuable. On top of that, he made sure to play a shift with each one of them in the match. And hence, all the members of the team were in possession of a stick that was used by the Great One during his last match.

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Because of the novelty of these sticks, it is no surprise that they were considered collectibles and also considered extremely precious by the people who received them.

The sticks were auctioned off for a hefty sum

A year or two ago, one of these sticks that was given by Gretzky to his teammates got auctioned off. The stick was auctioned at Sotheby’s, and it attracted a hefty auction price. The signed hockey stick sold for a whopping $136,000. This is not all, as the players and other members of the team considered the sticks sacred.

In fact, Niklas Sundstrom, one of Gretzky’s teammates, swore that he would not sell the stick. Instead, he wanted to keep the stick safe in his office as a tribute to his legendary teammate. According to Sundstrom, “It’s pure class. That’s what he’s like as a person. A class act. It was a hell of a move of him. He didn’t had to do it. He just did it because he’s a great guy.”

It seems like everything that Gretzky touched turned to gold. And why not? He was, after all, a phenomenon in hockey. Would you ever sell a hockey stick signed by the Great One Himself?

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