The 50 Most Inspiring Quotes From Wayne Gretzky

Born on January 26, 1961, Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a former Canadian ice hockey player and head coach. He’s even been a participant for 20 seasons with the NHL (National Hockey League). Retiring in 1999, he then made it into the Hockey Hall of Fame and has over 60 NHL records.

Through the years Gretzky’s known for his inspirational quotes on success and goal achievements.

Wayne Gretzky Quotes

For those underdogs out there who are in need of a little self-motivation; here’s 50 Wayne Gretzky quotes!

1. “I am an absolute fan of everything hockey.” — Wayne Gretzky

2. “When I was 5 years old, I played against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, and faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them. — ” Wayne Gretzky

3. “Skating itself is a form of art. Doing so under the influence of a substance? I don’t know. It’s got to be tough on a person.” — Wayne Gretzky

4. “Upon winning, say nothing, if you should lose keep your lips sealed shut.” — Wayne Gretzky

5. “The perfect hockey player plays wherever the puck takes him. An excellent hockey player plays wherever the puck ends up.” — Wayne Gretzky

6. “He brings something special. I’m not sure what it is, but if you ask him, you won’t be able to understand his reply.” — Wayne Gretzky

7. “It’s simply astounding how many companies suddenly want you to back up their products after you have held up the Stanley Cup.” — Wayne Gretzky

8. “Competitive spirit is still at its BEST. The more you win, the better a player you become the more money you start to make, so they all have that in mind.” — Wayne Gretzky

 

9. “We are in a tough situation because of teenage kids, and then we’ve a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, making my family and my responsibilities a kind of a juggle.” — Wayne Gretzky

10. “It is easier for someone to lose than win.” — Wayne Gretzky

11. “Procrastination is one of the greatest common & deadliest of human diseases that takes a toll on their success and true happiness lays heavy on the heart.” — Wayne Gretzky

12. “The only shot in which I ALWAYS tend to miss, is the one I never take!” — Wayne Gretzky

13. “You know, I have held women, babies, jewels and money, yet nothing will ever feel as good as holding that Cup.” — Wayne Gretzky

14. “At the end of the day everybody had lost. We almost crippled our industry. It was very disappointing when that happened.” — Wayne Gretzky

15. “And people who really know me would tell you that aside from hockey I am really not very competitive.” — Wayne Gretzky

16. “When you’ play during an exhibition, you’re kind of letting everyone get an open opportunity.” — Wayne Gretzky

17. “I think that sports for kids is the best thing in the wide world because it teaches you how to share, about winning and losing and pressure. But I don’t think you should force your kid to become a professional athlete.” — Wayne Gretzky

18. “I am probably the one and only guy in hockey who can win a scoring title and everybody is saying I had a bad year. I don’t worry at all about it.” — Wayne Gretzky

19. “The only way a kid is going to get inspired to practice is if it’s total FUN for him – and it was for me too.” — Wayne Gretzky

20. “When I broke into professional hockey at 17 I was told that I was too small and way too slow and I wouldn’t ever make the NHL. Now it is kind of flip-flopped and the sense is I cannot be a good coach because I was a great athlete.” — Wayne Gretzky

21. “I knew from a young age, whether I’d want rather be playing baseball or hockey or lacrosse, that my teammates were counting on me, whether it be to strike the last batter out in a baseball game or score a big goal in a hockey game.” — Wayne Gretzky

22. “Listen, everything I’ve in my life is because of the NHL and because of hockey, and my love of the game and I loved every minute of being a player, I loved coaching, I loved being involved in the NHL.” — Wayne Gretzky

23. “I think that the greatest thing about playing obviously is winning the game, and you cannot replace that experience with anything.” — Wayne Gretzky

24. “I don’t think any, one person will ever be bigger than the game.” — Wayne Gretzky

25. “90% of hockey is mental and the other 10% is physical.” — Wayne Gretzky

26. “In one sense we’re a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.” — Wayne Gretzky

27. “Look at professional players like Larry Bird, George Brett, and John McEnroe; that’s what they did in their careers. They all wanted to be the guy under the microscope late in the game or late for a match. So you simply take on that know-how that’s part of your responsibility, and you learn that’s what makes it exciting. That is what makes it fun!” — Wayne Gretzky

28. “By no means could I play at the level of these kids who play in the NHL now but as 50-year-olds go, I feel very good about it and I feel blessed that I’m still in good health .” — Wayne Gretzky

29. “That is the hardest part of this entire process. The best part is choosing the players and the worst part is telling basically five players they’re not going to play tonight.” — Wayne Gretzky

30. “I think many parents live their lives through the kids. Because they don’t make it [achieve something in life], they want their kids to make it. It puts a lot of undue pressure on the kids.” — Wayne Gretzky

31. “If you surround yourself with top notch people and great friends, then the sky’s the limit.” — Wayne Gretzky

32. “I get a feeling about where a teammate is going to be. A lot of times, I can turn and pass without even looking.” — Wayne Gretzky

33. “There is no perfect coach in the world. Coaches are human, too. Mistakes are made. But, fundamentally, if you’re sound, you eliminate as many mistakes as possible.” — Wayne Gretzky

34. “I feel that from the time you start playing sports as a child you see that your responsibility to your team is to play the best that you can play as an individual… and yet, not take anything away from being part of a team.” — Wayne Gretzky

35. “I don’t like my hockey sticks touching other sticks, and I don’t like them crossing one another, and I kind of have them hidden in the corner. I put baby powder on the ends. I think it’s essentially a matter of taking care of what takes care of you.” — Wayne Gretzky

36. “I think the Americans are ready to play, they want to beat us. I think that players like Chris Chelios and his leadership over there goes a long way.” — Wayne Gretzky

37. “You’ll never catch me bragging about goals, but I’ll talk all you want about my assists.” — Wayne Gretzky

38. “I just like to keep my money in the bank; I am not a big risk-taker. I do not know anything about the stock market. I stay away from things I don’t know anything about.” — Wayne Gretzky

39. “I can remember hockey. It was my life, my passion. It’s what I love the most.” — Wayne Gretzky

40. “The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.” — Wayne Gretzky

41. “The day I stop GIVING is the day I stop receiving. The day I stop learning is the day I stop growing.” — Wayne Gretzky

42. “It doesn’t matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what other people think. You have to get on the ice and participate and play and the best team wins.” — Wayne Gretzky

43. “Only one thing is ever guaranteed, that is that you will definitely not achieve the goal if you don’t take the shot.” — Wayne Gretzky

44. “Not doing it is certainly the best way to not getting it.” — Wayne Gretzky

45. “Maybe it wasn’t the talent the good Lord gave me-maybe it was the passion.” — Wayne Gretzky

46..”You always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky

47. “No matter who you are, we’re creatures of habit. The better your habits are, the better they will be in pressure situations.” — Wayne Gretzky

48. “It’s an honour and a thrill and a privilege just to play in the NHL.” — Wayne Gretzky

49. “I wasn’t naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that’s the way I’ll be as a coach.” — Wayne Gretzky

50. “What you want to do with your best players is, it doesn’t matter how many goals and assists they get, but when they get goals and assists. The best players get them at the most important times, and that’s when we need those guys to come through.” — Wayne Gretzky

Related: Ayrton Senna Quotes

Wayne Gretzky Highlights Video

This is one of the best highlights videos we have ever seen. If you like Wayne Gretzky, you will love this video. And it will remind you just of how awesome he was on the ice!

Also see our amazing quotes about hockey too!

Summary

He’s gained much wisdom over the years, and these 50 Wayne Gretzky Quotes are proof of that! Not only providing a glimpse into the world of hockey, but into his personal life as well. Whether you’re a hockey enthusiast or not; each of the above quotes are good tools to follow and apply in everyday life.

Image Credit:

The original uploader was Hakandahlstrom at English Wikipedia.Later versions were uploaded by IrisKawling at en.wikipedia. / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)