Which team selected Gretzky third in the 1977 OMJHL draft?

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds selected Gretzky third in the 1977 Ontario Midget Draft. He was 16 years old and still physically smaller than many players, but the Greyhounds recognized his unusual hockey intelligence and scoring ability.

Gretzky joined Sault Ste. Marie for the 1977–78 season and immediately became a standout. He scored 70 goals and recorded 112 assists in 63 games, producing 182 points. That performance earned him the Emms Family Award as the league’s rookie of the year and the William Hanley Trophy as the most gentlemanly player.

A common mix-up is confusing this selection with an NHL draft. Gretzky was not selected third by an NHL club in 1977; the Greyhounds picked him in the Ontario Midget Draft, then he played major junior hockey in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.

His arrival also helped create a lasting piece of hockey lore. He originally wanted jersey number 9 in honor of Gordie Howe, but after that number was unavailable, he wore 14 before eventually switching to the number 99 that became his trademark.