What is the first name of hockey's Gretzky?

The first name of hockey legend Gretzky is Wayne.

Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He became known worldwide by the nickname “The Great One” and is widely regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players in history. Gretzky played centre and built his reputation through exceptional vision, passing, anticipation, and scoring ability.

He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1979 to 1999, representing the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. His career included four Stanley Cup championships with Edmonton and numerous individual awards. He remains the NHL’s career leader in points and assists, and his number 99 was retired league-wide in 1999.

A common mix-up is confusing Wayne with his father, Walter Gretzky, who helped develop his son’s skills on a backyard rink. Wayne’s middle name, Douglas, is rarely used in ordinary references, so “Wayne” is the single canonical answer to this quiz question.