“He Always Told Me That”: Wayne Gretzky Confirms the Truth About Maurice Richard’s Rivalry

Wayne Gretzky, also known as the ‘White Tornado’ and the ‘Great One’, is a huge deal in the world of ice hockey and the NHL. It took Gretzky many years of hard work to become the legend he is today and to leave such a massive legacy behind him. When the Great One was in the league, he followed a number of heroes. The heroes weren’t made up; they were real, renowned players from the heyday of ice hockey.

Recently, on his Instagram, Wayne Gretzky posted a video. In the short video, which lasts over a minute, he discusses an award presented to him by a former ice hockey great. But when Gretzky was asked about the ice hockey icon in the comments, he dropped a major bombshell.

Legend talking about other legends

Wayne Gretzky did make several passing references to fellow ice hockey great Maurice “The Rocket” Richard in the video. Because of his stellar career, “The Rocket” is well-known to every NHL fan. Richard earned this moniker back in the day because of his lightning quickness and the fact that he was the first NHL player to achieve 50 goals in a season during the 1944–1945 season.

The right winger for the Montreal Canadiens played 978 games for the club over 18 seasons, tallying 544 goals, 422 assists, and 966 points. Since the 1998–1999 season, the Rocket Richard Trophy, named after the legend, has been presented to a number of players. Even though Gretzky never won the trophy after retiring in 1999, the great himself presented him with this one.

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In contrast, the “White Tornado” gave a straightforward response to a fan who inquired about the rivalry between the Rocket and “Mr. Hockey”, Gordie Howe. Gretzky commented, saying, “He always told me that.” The Great One did acknowledge that Rocket and Mr. Hockey were bitter rivals during the ice hockey heyday.

The games between the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings in the 1950s were always intense. When they were in their mid-20s and at the height of their careers, Richard, who played for the Canadiens, and Howe, who played for the Red Wings, squared off against each other.

Every match was a tough struggle, with each player giving their all in front of the crowd. However, Mr. Hockey was ultimately victorious due to his remarkable 1,767 games, during which he tallied 801 goals, 1,049 assists, and 1,850 points.

When did Wayne Gretzky beat one of the top scorers of the NHL?

From the beginning of his NHL career, Wayne Gretzky never stopped reaching for the stars. In his debut season (1979–80) in the NHL, Gretzky scored 51 goals, dished out 86 assists, and tallied 137 points with the Edmonton Oilers.

In the same season, Gordie Howe announced his retirement from professional hockey after achieving an incredible record of 801 goals, 1049 assists, and 1850 points in his whole career. No one in ice hockey history had ever scored more than 800 goals, so the record seemed unbreakable.

While playing for the Los Angeles Kings on March 23, 1994, the White Tornado scored his 802nd NHL goal, surpassing Gordie Howe’s previous mark. Gretzky took a give-and-go from defenseman Marty McSorley across the ice, drawing Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean out of the cage and scoring an open net.

Even after accomplishing this historic achievement, the Great One continued to dominate the game, finishing his career with 894 goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points.

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