Wayne Gretzky Shares Funny Story About Stalking His Idol Guy Lafleur During Team Canada Debut
Wayne Gretzky recently shared a hilarious story about when he first played for Team Canada, and how he was playing with and stalking his idol Guy Lafleur.
Wayne Gretzky remembered a funny yet unforgettable memory of his first outing for Team Canada and his respect for hockey icon Guy Lafleur.
Gretzky was just 19 when he was in awe of Lafleur, widely considered to be the best in the game at that time. Sitting next to his hero on the bench, Gretzky stuck to Lafleur throughout the entire tournament.
"Oh my God, I was like a little kid. I was a puppy dog. I followed Guy Lafleur wherever he went."
"I didn't go anywhere he didn't go. I followed him for six weeks."
- Wayne Gretzky
"I didn't go anywhere he didn't go. I followed him for six weeks."
- Wayne Gretzky
Much to his delight, Lafleur took to his side, in spite of their age gap, and forged a close bond of friendship.
Gretzky was thankful to share the ice with Lafleur, alongside other legends like Mike Bossy, Dennis Potvin, and Brian Trottier. The memory was etched in his memory for a lifetime.
Gretzky wore small shoulder pads per Lafleur's advice
There was a particular incident that was etched in his mind when Gretzky noticed that Lafleur was wearing no shoulder pads. In his efforts to be just like his icon, he developed the same habit, wearing small shoulder caps throughout his career.
«I asked him why he did that, and he said that he was quicker and faster without wearing full shoulder pads,» Gretzky said (per The Athletic).
He credited this to having avoided serious chest injuries to himself. Years after that, Gretzky nostalgically recollected his time with Lafleur, who passed away in April 2022 at age 70 after a battle with lung cancer.
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