Edmonton Oilers Heritage Website - Gretzky Breaks Goal Scoring Records

801 is the bench-marker Gordie Howe carried as the most prolific goal scorer in the regular season. It took him 1,761 games to accomplish the feat, and was drawing comparisons to Hank Aaron’s indomitable 715 home runs. History shows that such feats of achievement are possible, and it would take someone of bigger legend to even come close to the record.

On October 13, 1979, Gordie Howe startled the hockey world when he announced he was ending his career and retiring at the end of the season. Wayne Gretzky, a man who idolized Howe, scored his first NHL goal on

Vancouver goalie Glen Hanlon one day later. One legend was retiring and another was taking his place.

Throughout his career, Gretzky was a prolific goal scorer. From that first marker in Vancouver, where he once contemplated that no matter what else he did in the NHL, at least he scored one, he had a knack of finding the back of the net. Each season since the start of his career, Gretzky was breaking goal scoring records. Fallen already were fastest to 50 goals (December 20, 1981), single season scoring record (1981-82), and longest consecutive point scoring streak (1983-84). The once believed indomitable 801 was looming large.

On March 23, 1994, a day describe by the Great One as the most significant in his career, Gretzky surpassed his idol. Luc Robitaille, Gretzky’s left winger in Los Angles, lugged the puck up-ice into the visiting Vancouver Canucks zone. He dropped a pass to Gretzky who later fed King’s defenseman Marty McSorley who was streaking into the Vancouver end. A return feed across the slot and Gretzky saw a wide open net. A one- timer, a whiff of defenseman Gerald Diduck’s stick, and Gretzky got his 802.

The celebration that ensued was immense. The game was momentarily suspended and a ten minute ceremony to honour the accomplishment ensued. Gary Bettmen, the league commissioner, spoke the minds of the hockey world when he proclaimed to Gretzky “You have always been The Great One, but tonight you became the greatest”.

Gretzky would later end his regular season career with 894 goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points, a record he accomplished after 20 glorious seasons in the NHL.