Hockey icon Wayne Gretzky visited the Dallas Stars locker room to congratulate them after they reached the Western Conference Final for the third straight year. Their upcoming opponent is the Edmonton Oilers, the team where “The Great One” won four Stanley Cups.
Stars captain Jamie Benn recounted the visit on Tuesday, the day before Game 1 against Edmonton. “He said we’re going up against a pretty good team now,” Benn stated. He added that he felt compelled to ask Gretzky who he was rooting for, though Gretzky understandably didn`t reveal his preference.
Benn described Gretzky`s post-game visit as “pretty cool.” It occurred after the Stars secured their spot in the West Final rematch against the Oilers with a 2-1 overtime victory over Winnipeg on Saturday night.
Last year, Edmonton defeated the Stars in the Western Conference Final in six games before ultimately losing to Florida in a seven-game Stanley Cup Final.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer expressed his appreciation for the visit. “What a great honour to have the greatest player of all time come down after the game and say hello,” DeBoer commented.
According to DeBoer, Gretzky told the Stars he really enjoyed watching them play and that they were now set to face “one of the greatest teams ever.”
DeBoer had previously spent time with Gretzky while on the coaching staff for Team Canada during their 4 Nations Face-Off title win earlier in the year.
“Extra special. That’s my era. That’s the guy we all grew up watching,” DeBoer said, reflecting on Gretzky. “He’s a special guy when you get him 1-on-1 or in a coach’s room or behind the scenes. You can see his passion for the game. He can sit and talk hockey and tell stories all night.”
Gretzky was a key part of Edmonton`s dynasty in the 1980s, winning four Stanley Cup titles in five seasons. He held the NHL career goal-scoring record with 894 goals until Alex Ovechkin surpassed him recently, but he still holds the all-time records for points (2,857) and assists (1,963).
Regarding whether Gretzky said anything about who he hoped would win the series, DeBoer clarified that Gretzky was respectful of the Stars organization and the team`s achievements. “He didn’t. He would never say that, and I would never put him in that spot,” DeBoer stated. He acknowledged understanding Gretzky`s strong ties to Edmonton and noted that the legend did not express any bias during the visit.
