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Keith Gretzky
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Keith Edward Gretzky (born February 16, 1967) is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former player who served as interim general manager of the Edmonton Oilers from January 23 to May 7, 2019. He is the brother of Wayne Gretzky, considered by many as the best player of all time, and Brent Gretzky, who also briefly played NHL hockey.
Key Information
Playing and coaching career
[edit]Keith, Wayne and Brent Gretzky were taught hockey by their father, Walter. He had a moderately successful career in the OHL with the Brantford Alexanders, Windsor Spitfires, Belleville Bulls, and Hamilton Steelhawks, His best season as a player came in 1986–87 when he recorded 35 goals, 66 assists for 101 points in 64 games with Belleville and Hamilton. In 298 OHL games, he collected 113 goals, 222 assists and 335 points.
Keith was taken in the 3rd round (56th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Though he attended two training camps and played in several pre-season games, he never played a regular season game for the Sabres.[1] Gretzky played five seasons in the International Hockey League with the Flint Spirits, San Diego Gulls and the Phoenix Roadrunners (28 goals, 51 assists, and 79 points in 132 games) and two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans (11 goals, 37 assists, 48 points in 66 games). Gretzky also played one season in the East Coast Hockey League with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. He then played two seasons in Europe with Ketterä in Finland's I-Divisioona, and the Ayr Raiders in the British Hockey League.
After retiring from professional hockey in 1993, Gretzky turned to coaching and began his career behind the bench with the Tri-City Americans (WHL) as an assistant coach. After one season with Tri-City, he moved to Bakersfield where he became the head coach of the WCHL's Fog. Gretzky coached three seasons with the Fog (1995–1998) before leaving to coach the Asheville Smoke of the UHL for two seasons (1998–2000). He coached his brother Brent with the Smoke. He was also general manager of the Smoke.
Gretzky joined the Phoenix Coyotes as a scout in 2001, then was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Coyotes on July 12, 2006, after serving the previous five seasons as an amateur scout for both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League. In 2013, he joined the Boston Bruins organization as an amateur scout, and in August 2013 was appointed the Director of Amateur Scouting for the Bruins.[2][3]
On August 2, 2016, Gretzky was hired by the Edmonton Oilers as assistant general manager.[4] On January 23, 2019, Gretzky was made interim General Manager (GM) of the Edmonton Oilers, subsequent to the firing of former general manager Peter Chiarelli from the position. The team went 12-14-6 during his interim stint. He served in the position until May 7, 2019, when Ken Holland was appointed GM, and returned to the position of assistant general manager afterwards.[5][6]
Gretzky appeared in two 1981 7 Up commercials with his brother Wayne. Keith had the punchline in one ad: "I taught him everything he knows".[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Keith Gretzky - Director of Amateur Scouting". Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ^ Joe McDonald (August 20, 2013). "Boston Bruins promote Keith Gretzky". ESPN. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "Boston Bruins promote Keith Gretzky, Wayne's brother, to amateur scouting director". Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- ^ "Keith Gretzky named Oilers assistant GM". NHL.com. August 2, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ "Edmonton Names Ken Holland as GM, President of Hockey Ops" The Associated Press via The New York Times, May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ "BLOG: Keith Gretzky remaining with Oilers". October 12, 2023.
- ^ McSween, Steve. "Getting to Know the Gretzky's". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
Keith Gretzky
View on GrokipediaEarly life and family background
Birth and upbringing
Keith Edward Gretzky was born on February 16, 1967, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, as the third child in a family of five siblings. He is the younger brother of Wayne Gretzky, born in 1961, and the older brother of Brent Gretzky, born in 1972, with sisters Kim and brother Glen completing the family.[6][7] Keith grew up in a hockey-centric household in Brantford, raised by parents Walter Gretzky, a dedicated hockey enthusiast and local community figure, and Phyllis Hockin Gretzky, whom Walter married in 1960. Walter, who had played hockey in his youth and possessed a deep understanding of the game, built a backyard rink known as "Wally's Coliseum" where he taught his children the fundamentals of hockey from an early age, fostering their skills through constant practice and coaching. The family's modest socioeconomic background reflected Walter's career as a telephone installer for Bell Canada, supporting the household while prioritizing affordable family activities centered on the sport.[8][9][10] The Gretzkys traced their roots to immigrant heritage, with Walter's mother of Polish descent and his father Russian, origins that shaped a resilient family ethos amid their working-class life in Brantford. Keith attended local schools in the area during his early years, though his childhood was overwhelmingly defined by the family's immersion in hockey rather than other pursuits. Growing up alongside his superstar brother Wayne introduced unique pressures and attention to the family dynamics from a young age.[9][11]Introduction to hockey
Keith Gretzky's introduction to hockey occurred during his childhood in Brantford, Ontario, under the guidance of his father, Walter Gretzky, a dedicated hockey enthusiast who instilled the basics of the sport in his sons from a young age. Walter built a backyard rink, dubbed "Wally's Coliseum," specifically for his children and neighborhood kids, providing an ideal setting for daily practice sessions focused on skating, puck control, and basic techniques. This family rink played a crucial role in Keith's early skill-building, where he joined his brothers in rigorous, informal drills that emphasized consistency and enjoyment of the game.[12][11] As Keith progressed, he transitioned to organized minor hockey in Brantford, playing on local teams alongside his brothers under Walter's coaching in the community's minor leagues. These early experiences highlighted teamwork and foundational play rather than individual stardom, fostering a grounded approach to the sport in contrast to the prodigious attention his brother Wayne received from an early age. Walter's involvement as an astute coach in the system ensured that Keith developed a strong understanding of hockey's core principles through structured games and practices.[12][11] The Gretzky family's collective practices, often extending into neighborhood pick-up games on the backyard rink, bridged Keith's informal training to competitive youth play, preparing him for more structured leagues while nurturing a lifelong passion for hockey.[12]Playing career
Junior hockey
Keith Gretzky began his junior hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 1982–83 season, joining the Brantford Alexanders at age 15.[13] In 37 games with the team, he recorded 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points, marking a modest start as he adjusted to the competitive level.[13] The following season, 1983–84, Gretzky transferred to the Windsor Spitfires, where he showed significant improvement.[13] Playing all 70 games, he tallied 15 goals and 38 assists for 53 points, demonstrating growing offensive contributions as a forward.[13] His development continued in 1984–85 with the renamed Windsor Compuware Spitfires, a breakout year in which he achieved career highs of 31 goals and 62 assists for 93 points in 66 games.[13] In 1985–86, Gretzky split the season between the Windsor Compuware Spitfires and the Belleville Bulls after a midseason trade.[13] With Windsor, he posted 24 goals and 36 assists in 43 games, then added 3 goals and 11 assists in 18 games with Belleville, for totals of 27 goals and 47 assists in 61 appearances.[13] His final junior campaign in 1986–87 saw him divided between the Belleville Bulls and the Hamilton Steelhawks.[13] He scored 17 goals and 36 assists in 29 games for Belleville, followed by 18 goals and 30 assists in 35 games for Hamilton, ending with 35 goals and 66 assists over 64 games.[13] Across his four full seasons in the OHL from 1983–87, spanning 298 games with Brantford, Windsor, Belleville, and Hamilton, Gretzky accumulated 113 goals, 222 assists, and 335 points.[13] His elevated assist totals highlighted a playmaking style as a skilled forward, emphasizing vision and setup opportunities on offense.[14] During his junior eligibility, Gretzky was selected in the third round, 56th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.[15] Throughout his OHL tenure, Gretzky navigated the pressures of constant comparisons to his older brother Wayne, a hockey phenomenon, which added challenges to his development despite his own solid production.[16]Professional leagues
Keith Gretzky turned professional in 1987 following his junior career, signing with the Buffalo Sabres organization after being selected in the third round (56th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.[1] Despite his promise as a playmaking forward, he never appeared in an NHL game, instead spending his six-year pro career in minor leagues and overseas circuits, where he accumulated 239 points in 279 regular-season games across multiple affiliations.[1] Gretzky's American Hockey League (AHL) tenure was limited to two partial seasons with the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' top farm club, where he recorded 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists) in 66 games, showcasing his passing ability but struggling with consistency amid defensive challenges.[1] His most productive stretch came in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) during the 1990–91 season with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds, where he tallied 66 points (15 goals, 51 assists) in 52 games, earning recognition as a top playmaker in the developmental circuit.[13] In the International Hockey League (IHL), Gretzky played 132 games over five seasons with three teams: the Flint Spirits (1987–89), Phoenix Roadrunners (1989–90), and San Diego Gulls (1991–93), amassing 79 points (28 goals, 51 assists) while contributing to playoff efforts, including eight points in 11 postseason games.[1] Overseas, he briefly ventured to Europe in 1988–89 with Ketterä Imatra of Finland's I-divisioona (13 points in 15 games) and in 1989–90 with the Ayr Raiders of the British Hockey League (33 points in 14 games), adapting to lower competition levels but gaining international experience.[13] Gretzky retired as a player at age 26 following the 1992–93 season with the San Diego Gulls, where limited production (eight points in 20 games) and increasing competition in the minors prompted his shift toward coaching and development roles.[1]| League | Seasons | Teams | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHL | 1987–89 | Rochester Americans | 66 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 6 |
| IHL | 1987–93 | Flint Spirits, Phoenix Roadrunners, San Diego Gulls | 132 | 28 | 51 | 79 | 14 |
| ECHL | 1990–91 | Winston-Salem Thunderbirds | 52 | 15 | 51 | 66 | 4 |
| Europe | 1988–90 | Ketterä Imatra (Finland), Ayr Raiders (UK) | 29 | 14 | 32 | 46 | 20 |
Post-playing career
Coaching roles
After retiring from professional hockey in 1993, Keith Gretzky transitioned into coaching, beginning with an assistant role that built on his experience as a player in junior and minor professional leagues.[17] Gretzky served as an assistant coach for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 1993-94 season, supporting head coach Bob McCammon in developing young prospects in the league's competitive environment.[18] His time there marked his initial foray into junior hockey coaching, focusing on skill enhancement for teenage players transitioning toward professional ranks. In 1995, Gretzky advanced to a head coaching position with the Bakersfield Fog of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL), a minor professional circuit, where he led the team for three seasons from 1995 to 1998. Under his guidance, the Fog qualified for the playoffs in two of those years, emphasizing disciplined play and player progression in a high-scoring league. Notable among the roster was forward Steve Dowhy, who led the team with 89 points in 58 games during the 1995-96 season. Gretzky's overall record with the Fog was 79 wins, 92 losses, 0 ties, and 15 overtime losses in 186 games, for a .465 winning percentage.[1][19]| Season | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pct | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | WCHL | 58 | 24 | 29 | 0 | 5 | .457 | Out of playoffs |
| 1996-97 | WCHL | 64 | 33 | 26 | 0 | 5 | .555 | Lost in round 1 |
| 1997-98 | WCHL | 64 | 22 | 37 | 0 | 5 | .383 | Lost in round 1 |
| Season | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pct | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | UHL | 74 | 36 | 35 | 0 | 3 | .507 | Lost in round 1 |
| 1999-00 | UHL | 74 | 34 | 38 | 0 | 2 | .473 | Lost in round 1 |
