When it comes to the NHL, few players have represented the league and the sport quite like Wayne Gretzky. With his scandal-free public image and class both on and off the ice, “The Great One” has long been seen as the gold standard.
Always kind to fans and respectful toward opponents, Gretzky has built a legacy of humility. But even he has had his moments, and one of the rare public missteps in his career came at the expense of the New Jersey Devils.
The New Jersey Devils Get the Brunt of Wayne Gretzky’s Anger
On Nov. 19, 1983, Gretzky, along with the Edmonton Oilers, was facing the Devils in their home arena at the Northlands Coliseum. Coming into the game, the Devils had an abysmal record of 2-17.
Against Gretzky’s powerhouse Oilers, the Devils didn’t stand a chance. Edmonton torched them 13-4, with Gretzky racking up eight points (three goals, five assists), tying the NHL record for most points in a single game.
But Gretzky wasn’t amused by this win. In fact, he was annoyed. In the post-game, he mentioned, “It got to the point where it wasn’t even funny,” as he told Dick Chubey of the Edmonton Sun Hockey. He even felt sorry for Ron Low, who was the goalie that night for the Devils.
Gretzky emphasized how the Devils had to take this seriously. “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,” he continued. But he didn’t just stop there.
No, he even said, “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.”
Now, while Gretzky soon doubled down and apologized to the fans and the team later via Telex, the fans took this jibe quite humorously.
When the Oilers met the Devils a few months later, the fans showed up wearing Mickey Mouse ears. It ended up being a fun night for both teams as the Oilers won with a margin of 5-4, with Gretzky getting three points that night.
Meanwhile, the fans came up with some of the funniest signs that Gretzky had ever seen. “My favorite was the one that read, ’Gretzky is Goofy,'” he mentioned.
While not every player could get away with a tirade like that, Gretzky had — and has — a legendary reputation; when he talks, people should listen.
