Q 01/05

In which Ontario city was Wayne Gretzky born and raised?

A) Kingston

B) Brantford

C) Hamilton

D) Sudbury

Answer · why

B) Brantford

Brantford was home, but he first skated at age two on the frozen Nith River, below his grandparents' farm just outside town.

Q 02/05

What was the nickname of the backyard rink Walter Gretzky built for his sons?

A) The Varadi Arena

B) Walter's Forum

C) The Gretzky Gardens

D) The Wally Coliseum

Answer · why

D) The Wally Coliseum

The Wally Coliseum was, in Walter's words, self-preservation: he was tired of freezing beside outdoor rinks while his son skated for hours.

Q 03/05

How many goals did a ten-year-old Gretzky score in one season for the Nadrofsky Steelers?

A) 41

B) 124

C) 378

D) 1,139

Answer · why

C) 378

378 goals in a single season: by his early teens he was already a celebrity across Canada.

Q 04/05

Why did Gretzky always tuck one side of his jersey into his pants?

A) A coach called it lucky

B) To copy his hero's look

C) His first sweaters were too big

D) To hide a number he disliked

Answer · why

C) His first sweaters were too big

His first sweaters were too big, because at six he played on a team of ten-year-olds; the tuck stuck for life, and in 2013 the NHL began penalizing it...

Q 05/05

Why did Gretzky wear number 99 instead of his hero's number 9?

A) His father picked the number

B) A teammate already wore 9

C) His league banned single digits

D) It was the only sweater left

Answer · why

B) A teammate already wore 9

A teammate already wore 9, so his junior club suggested doubling it, and 99 became so tied to him that in 2000 the NHL retired it for every team.