The Great One : The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky

One of this century's greatest athletes, Wayne Gretzky, The Great One, never failed to enthrall hockey fans with his incredible talent and skill.

It was with bittersweet sadness that the hockey world accepted the retirement of its most beloved player after the 1998-99 season. For the past twenty years, Wayne Gretzky above all has epitomized the toughness, power, and excitement of hockey. A class act, admired by teammates and foes alike, holder of numerous records, and always a consummate sportsman, Gretzky simply defines the game of hockey.

Including more than 120 extraordinary black and white and color photographs, The Great One celebrates Gretzky, from his early days as Brantford, Ontario's whiz kid, all the way to his Stanley Cup glories. The Great One includes a compilation of number ninety-nine's records of achievement and game-by-game statistics for his two decades of excellence.

Expertly written and researched by hockey historian Andrew Podnieks, the book also includes rare interviews, anecdotes, and little-known facts about Gretzky.

With Wayne Gretzky's retirement, hockey fans everyone mourned the passing of an era. But Gretzky's words and achievements live on in The Great One. There is no better way to remember the career of hockey's most superb and charismatic player.

ANDREW PODNIEKS is the author of many books on hockey, including The Blue and White Book, Portraits of the Game, and Shooting Stars. A hockey historian, photographer, and former creative writing teacher, Andrew lives in Toronto.