Brent Gretzky
Encyclopedia
Brent Gretzky is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player, and the brother of Wayne
and Keith Gretzky
. He briefly played in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for the Tampa Bay Lightning
.
Taught the game by his father Walter
, Gretzky was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
, but did not find the same success as his brother.
Brent grew up playing minor hockey in Brantford, Ontario for the Brantford Classics of the OMHA. In 1988-89, he played Jr.B. hockey for the Brantford Classics of the OHA.
He was selected in the 1st round (6th overall) of the 1989 OHL Priority Selection by the Belleville Bulls where he spent three years. With the Bulls, he was a linemate of future NHL'er Darren McCarty.
During Gretzky's 13-game stint with Tampa Bay, he played once against Wayne: "We must have faced off 15 times and I won one. I remember chasing him behind the net. I knew what he was going to do and I still found myself looking for my jock
. The hardest part was after the game, going and watching ESPN
. It was older Gretzky shows young Gretzky how to play hockey." Together, Wayne and Brent hold the NHL record for most combined points by two brothers (2857 for Wayne and 4 for Brent).
Gretzky was a career minor leaguer, floating between the International Hockey League, the American Hockey League
, and the United Hockey League
. He played for Graz EC
Austria in 1997-98. On June 6, 2006, the Elmira Jackals
announced they had acquired his rights from the Motor City Mechanics
, but he never played with Elmira; his season with the Mechanics was his last as a professional. He and four other former Danbury Trashers
players were served with subpoena
s by the FBI in its investigation into owner James Galante
's business dealings.
In 2008, Gretzky played six games for his hometown Brantford Blast
team in the senior league Major League Hockey
, which went on to win the 2008 Allan Cup
, after which Gretzky retired from organized competition.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, and the brother of Wayne
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
and Keith Gretzky
Keith Gretzky
Keith Edward Gretzky is one of the brothers of famous ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky. Keith was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Phoenix Coyotes on July 12, 2006, after serving the previous five seasons as an amateur scout for both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and...
. He briefly played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) for the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
.
Taught the game by his father Walter
Walter Gretzky
Walter Gretzky, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian who has been honoured for his contributions to minor hockey in Canada, and for his dedication to helping many local, provincial, and national charities...
, Gretzky was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
1992 NHL Entry Draft
The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
, but did not find the same success as his brother.
Brent grew up playing minor hockey in Brantford, Ontario for the Brantford Classics of the OMHA. In 1988-89, he played Jr.B. hockey for the Brantford Classics of the OHA.
He was selected in the 1st round (6th overall) of the 1989 OHL Priority Selection by the Belleville Bulls where he spent three years. With the Bulls, he was a linemate of future NHL'er Darren McCarty.
During Gretzky's 13-game stint with Tampa Bay, he played once against Wayne: "We must have faced off 15 times and I won one. I remember chasing him behind the net. I knew what he was going to do and I still found myself looking for my jock
Jockstrap
A jockstrap is an undergarment designed for supporting the male genitalia during sports or other vigorous physical activity...
. The hardest part was after the game, going and watching ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. It was older Gretzky shows young Gretzky how to play hockey." Together, Wayne and Brent hold the NHL record for most combined points by two brothers (2857 for Wayne and 4 for Brent).
Gretzky was a career minor leaguer, floating between the International Hockey League, the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
. He played for Graz EC
Graz 99ers
-Current roster: Roster Updated as of: December 30, 2010 -Former players:...
Austria in 1997-98. On June 6, 2006, the Elmira Jackals
Elmira Jackals
The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
announced they had acquired his rights from the Motor City Mechanics
Motor City Mechanics
The Motor City Mechanics were a professional ice hockey team of the United Hockey League. The Mechanics played their first two seasons, from 2004–2006, at Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena in Fraser, Michigan...
, but he never played with Elmira; his season with the Mechanics was his last as a professional. He and four other former Danbury Trashers
Danbury Trashers
The Danbury Trashers were a United Hockey League ice hockey team located in Danbury, Connecticut. They played their home games at the Danbury Ice Arena....
players were served with subpoena
Subpoena
A subpoena is a writ by a government agency, most often a court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoena:...
s by the FBI in its investigation into owner James Galante
James Galante
James Galante is a convicted felon and associate of the Genovese crime family, owner of the defunct Danbury Trashers minor league hockey team, and ex-CEO of Automated Waste Disposal , a company which holds waste disposal contracts for most of western Connecticut and Westchester and Putnam counties...
's business dealings.
In 2008, Gretzky played six games for his hometown Brantford Blast
Brantford Blast
Brantford Blast are a Canadian senior ice hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey Association's Allan Cup Hockey, from Brantford, Ontario. The team was established in 2000, and play their games at the Brantford Civic Centre.-Competitive hockey back in Brantford:...
team in the senior league Major League Hockey
Major League Hockey
Allan Cup Hockey is the top tier Canadian Senior ice hockey league in the province of Ontario. As a member of the Ontario Hockey Association and Hockey Canada, the league contends for the famed Allan Cup. The league came to its latest incarnation when it lost several teams leaving it with two...
, which went on to win the 2008 Allan Cup
2008 Allan Cup
The 2008 Allan Cup was the 2008 edition of the Canadian National Championship of Senior ice hockey, and the tournament marked the 100th year that the Allan Cup has been awarded. The 2008 tournament was hosted by the City of Brantford, Ontario, and the Brantford Blast of the Ontario Hockey...
, after which Gretzky retired from organized competition.