| The most prolific scorer in NHL history, Wayne Gretzky has also been a major player on the international hockey stage. In 1978, he led Team Canada to a bronze medal behind the Soviets and Sweden at the World Junior Championships, leading the tournament with 17 points (eight goals and nine assists) in six games and being named both the Best Forward and the center on the All-Star Team. He also starred for Canada at the Canada Cup in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991, leading the tournament in scoring each year and being named to the All-Star team when Canada won it all in 1984, 1987 and 1991. In 1987, Gretzky set up Mario Lemieux for the Canada Cup winner in a thrilling three-game final with the Soviets for a goal that ranks among the greatest in Canada's international hockey history. In 1996, Gretzky was a member of the Canadian team at the World Cup of Hockey and in 1998 he represented his country at the Olympic Games in Nagano. It was his dream to win a gold medal at the Olympics, but Canada came up short against the Czech Republic in the semifinals and had to settle for a disappointing fourth-place finish.With his teams generally in the hunt for the Stanley Cup during his heyday, Wayne Gretzky only represented Canada at the World Championships in 1982. That year he lead the tournament in scoring with 14 points (six goals and eight assists) and was named to the All-Star Team as Canada earned a bronze medal.Gretzky finally got his wish of an Olympic gold for Canada in 2002 when he returned to the games as Executive Director for Team Canada. Not satisfied with just an Olympic gold, The Great One returned as Executive Director for Team Canada at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and selected a team that would go undefeated on its way to winning the championsip. |
|
|
