| Do you know "The Great One"? In the world of | | | | and elegance on the ice. Born in Montreal, Canada, |
| hockey, that can only refer to Wayne Gretzky. While | | | | Lemieux began playing hockey at three-years-old! |
| Gretzky has retired from the NHL, his skills and love | | | | Then in 1984, he became the NHL's first overall pick. |
| for the game live on in today's NHL teams, such as the | | | | He earned the nickname "Super Mario" during his |
| Calgary Flames. While Gretzky was arguably the | | | | hockey career. Lemieux won two Stanley Cups, and |
| greatest NHL player in the league's history, he is | | | | retired with 613 goals and 881 assists. He also won the |
| among the best of the best that have ever played | | | | hockey gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, |
| professional hockey: | | | | representing Canada. |
| 1. Wayne Gretzky | | | | 4. Bobby Orr |
| No "best of the best" list of NHL players is complete | | | | Orr was born in Ontario, Canada. He started playing |
| without "The Great One." Gretzky's accomplishments | | | | hockey soon after he had begun to walk. Orr earned |
| during his career include:o Four Stanley Cupso | | | | the highest salary of any NHL rookie in history, |
| Nine-time NHL MVPo Jersey number (#99) | | | | receiving roughly $25,000 per year. He also became |
| permanently retired throughout NHLo More than 60 | | | | the first NHL defenseman who was also potent on |
| NHL recordso NHL all-time leading scorero Two | | | | offense. Orr led the Boston Bruins to two NHL Stanley |
| Canada Cup MVPs | | | | Cup championships (1970, 1972), while he won the |
| Born in Ontario Canada, at the age of three-years-old, | | | | defenseman MVP eight consecutive years. During his |
| Gretzky received his first pair of ice skates. Gretzky | | | | NHL career, Orr also helped to launch the NHL Players |
| mastered his skating skills on his personal ice rink. | | | | Association. |
| 2. Gordie Howe | | | | 5. Maurice "Rocket" Richard |
| Howe was an ironman on ice. In fact, his nickname "Mr. | | | | Born in Montreal, Richard started to play hockey |
| Hockey" is actually a registered trademark. Howe | | | | shortly after he mastered walking. He mastered his |
| played the most games in the NHL's history. Eleven | | | | skating on a rink behind his home. Richard became |
| different Halls of Fame have inducted Howe. A "Goldie | | | | famous for his goal-scoring and hard-hitting on the ice. |
| Howe Hat Trick" refers to a trifecta that differed from | | | | He led his team, the Montreal Canadians, to an |
| the standard definition of three goals in a single game. | | | | impressive eight NHL championships. One of Richard's |
| Instead, the Goldie Howe Hat Trick includes one goal, | | | | greatest feats during his career was racking up 50 |
| one assist, and one won fight. Interestingly, Howe only | | | | goals in 50 NHL games. Richard entered the Hockey |
| had one Goldie Howe Hat Trick during his illustrious | | | | Hall of Fame in 1961, one year after retiring. |
| career. | | | | There has been one "Great One" in NHL history, along |
| 3. Mario Lemieux | | | | with other great ones. Use NHL merchandise to cheer |
| Like Wayne Gretzky, Lemieux had amazing speed | | | | on your favorite NHL team to the great Stanley Cup! |