Wayne Gretzky was, obviously, a very good hockey player.
But he was also great off the ice, and hockey couldn’t have asked for a better ambassador than The Great One.
He was always a gentleman and always so kind and respectful to everyone, whether it was fans or opponents.
Gretzky stayed out of scandals and had the most amazing NHL careers of all time. But on November 19, 1983, he had the perhaps only public relations misstep after a one-of-a-kind game against the New Jersey Devils.
The New Jersey Devils played their first game in 1982, but they didn’t have the best first NHL season. After 19 games, they had a 2-17-0 record for a total of four points.
Next up was the mighty Edmonton Oilers, with superstar Wayne Gretzky running the offense. And it got worse than anyone could’ve expected.
No. 99 recorded his first eight-point night in the NHL, and Jari Kurri scored five. The Edmonton Oilers didn’t just win the game; they demolished the Devils in a game that ended 13-4. Postgame, Gretzky didn’t hold back.
”It got to the point where it wasn’t even funny,” Gretzky told Edmonton Sun hockey writer Dick Chubey.
Ron Low was playing in goal for the Devils most of that night, and Gretzky felt sorry for him. But while giving his honest assessment of his opponents, he called them a ’Mickey Mouse organization.’
”How long has it been for them? Three years? Five? Seven? Probably closer to nine. Well, it’s about time they got their act together. They’re ruining the whole league. They better stop running a Mickey Mouse organization and put somebody on the ice. I feel damn sorry for Ron Low and Chico Resch.”
Gretzky didn’t do much wrong off the ice during his career, but this is one interview he wishes he could have back. He apologized to the Devils via Telex. Months later, the Oilers returned to play the Devils, and fans, of course, showed up wearing Mickey Mouse ears and sweaters.
Wayne Gretzky had a three-point night, and the Oilers won 5-4.
And during the game, even Gretzky couldn’t help but to smile at one of the signs a fan had made about his earlier claims about the Devils being a Mickey Mouse organization.
”My favourite was the one that read ’Gretzky is Goofy,’” Gretzky said.
