Gallery: Wayne Gretzky turns 50

 

Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky, who holds the National Hockey League record for points and is widely considered the game's greatest player, turns 50 on Wednesday.

 
January 25, 2011
 
 
 
NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky (R) stands in the dugout with children (L-R) Tristan, Trevor and Paulina prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Opening Day at Angel Stadium on April 5, 2010 in Anaheim, California.
 

NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky (R) stands in the dugout with children (L-R) Tristan, Trevor and Paulina prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Opening Day at Angel Stadium on April 5, 2010 in Anaheim, California.

Photograph by: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

 
NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky (R) stands in the dugout with children (L-R) Tristan, Trevor and Paulina prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Opening Day at Angel Stadium on April 5, 2010 in Anaheim, California.
Oaks Christian High School backup quarterback Trevor Gretzky (L) talks with his parents, former NHL player and coach Wayne Gretzky (C), and wife Janet Jones after a varsity football game against Venice High School in Los Angeles, October 2, 2009. Oaks Christian won 33-13.
A December 1987 file photo of Wayne Gretzky, Janet Jones and Santa.
Wayne Gretzky (C) and family members carry the casket of Gretzky's mother Phyllis Gretzky after funeral services in Brantford, December 22, 2005. Phyllis Gretzky died of lung cancer at the age of 64.
Wayne Gretzky sits in his limousine after funeral services for his mother Phyllis Gretzky in Brantford, Ont., on December 22, 2005. Phyllis Gretzky died of lung cancer at the age of 64.
Shaun White of the United States poses with his men's halfpipe Olympic gold medal and hockey great Wayne Gretzky at the USA House on February 18, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.
Walter Gretzky, father of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, watches the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees MLB American League baseball game in Toronto, May 12, 2009.
Former Edmonton Oiler captain Wayne Gretzky hoists the Stanley Cup over his head in 1985 after the Oilers won the NHL championship for the second of five times.
Wayne Gretzky faces the media at Molson House on Aug. 11, 1988 to discuss his trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
New St. Louis Blues player Wayne Gretzky (L) prowls behind the net with Vancouver Canucks Dana Murzyn (R) during his first game with the Blues, February 29, 1966 in Vancouver, after being traded from the Los Angeles Kings.
New St. Louis Blues player Wayne Gretzky scores his first goal against the Vancouver Canucks, February 29, 1996 in Vancouver, during his first game with the Blues after being traded from the Los Angeles Kings.
St. Louis Blue Brett Hull (L) chats with his new teammate Wayne Gretzky (R) 28 February in Vancouver, Canada, during his first workout since being traded from the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky will play his first game with the Blues 29 February against the Canucks.
Wayne Gretzky, executive director of the Team Canada men's ice hockey team, signs an autograph after arriving for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, February 14, 2006.
Head coach Wayne Gretzky of the Phoenix Coyotes yells at an official Saturday, October 18, 2008 in a game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Phoenix Coyotes' head coach Wayne Gretzky (L) and former Edmonton Oilers' great Mark Messier exchange greetings during Messier's jersey retirement ceremony in Edmonton February 27, 2007. The Edmonton Oilers hockey club honored their former captain before their NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Phoenix Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky looks on in the third period against the Vancouver Canucks during an NHL hockey game in Glendale, Arizona, December 22, 2007. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 2-1.
Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky sits on the bench during his team's loss to the Montreal Canadiens during NHL hockey play in Montreal in this file photo taken October 18, 2008. Gretzky has stepped down as head coach and director of hockey operations at the Phoenix Coyotes, a victim of the ailing franchise's muddled ownership picture, the NHL Hall of Famer announced September 24, 2009.
Former hockey great Wayne Gretzky waves as he carries the Olympic torch during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place on February 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.
Wayne Gretzky, Executice Director of the Canadian Olympic men's ice hockey team sits with his son Tristan (R) during practice at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, February 20, 2006.
Canada's Executive Director of the men's Olympic ice hockey team Wayne Gretzky (R) and assistant coach Ken Hitchcock watch a practice session at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, February 20, 2006.
Canadian men's Olympic ice hockey team executive director Wayne Gretzky tries out a helmet and camera used by the rinkside tv cameraman before Canada's game against Germany, at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, February 16, 2006.
Wayne Gretzky (L), executive director of Canada's men's Olympic ice hockey team kisses his wife Janet during the game between Canada and the Czech Republic at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, February 21, 2006.
Phoenix Coyotes third overall pick Kyle Turris of British Columbia poses with managing partner Wayne Gretzky (L) during the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio, June 22, 2007.
WAYNE GRETZKY, BRUCE MCNALL LEAVE THE ICE IN THIS 1994 FILE PHOTO.
MUHAMMAD ALI (LEFT) CLOWNS WITH WAYNE GRETZKY AT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED BANQUET IN 1994.
WAYNE GRETZKY Team Photo.
WAYNE GRETZKY WON FOUR STANLEY CUPS DURING HIS DAYS IN EDMONTON.
Wayne Gretzky of the Phoenix Coyotes watches his team workout in Vancouver, British Columbia in this October 5, 2005 file photo.
Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux (R) hugs New York Rangers Wayne Gretzky before Gretzky played the final game of his career in this April 18, 1999 file photo.
Former NHL hockey player and current coach Wayne Gretzky (L) poses with his daughter Paulina Gretzky at the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Hangover" at Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California, June 2, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 

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