Jan. 26: Gretzky born in Brantford, Ontario

THIS DATE IN HISTORY: Jan. 26
1961:
Wayne Gretzky
, the NHL's all-time scoring leader, is born in Brantford, Ontario.

Gretzky's talents are obvious almost from the time he learns to play hockey. At age 6, he skates with 10-year-olds; at 10, he scores 378 goals. He plays junior hockey at age 16; one year later, he signs with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association. But after eight games, the Racers trade him to the Edmonton Oilers. He comes to the NHL with the Oilers in 1979, when the League absorbs four teams from the WHA.
Gretzky ties for the NHL scoring lead in 1979-80 and wins the
Hart Trophy
. In 1980-81, he wins the
Art Ross Trophy
as the League's top scorer for the first of seven consecutive seasons and repeats as Hart Trophy winner. One year later, he shatters NHL records for goals (92) and points (212). The Oilers make the Stanley Cup Final in
1983
, but are swept by the New York Islanders. They avenge that loss one year later, defeating the Islanders to win the Cup for
their first of four
championships in a five-season span.
Three months after the Oilers win in
1988
, Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings. On Oct. 15, 1989, he passes his idol,
Gordie Howe
, for the all-time NHL lead in points by scoring a goal against his former team at Northlands Coliseum. He helps the Kings to their first Stanley Cup Final in
1993
after missing much of the season with a back injury.
The Kings trade him to the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 27, 1996, and he signs as a free agent with the New York Rangers that summer, rejoining longtime Edmonton teammate
Mark Messier
. Gretzky plays three seasons in New York before retiring with NHL records of 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points, as well as Stanley Cup Playoff records of 122 goals, 260 assists and 382 points.

Gretzky also has some memorable birthday moments:
1985:On the day he turns 24, Gretzky
scores three goals
for his 33rd NHL hat trick in the Oilers'
6-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins
at Northlands Coliseum. That gives him 50 goals in 49 games, the third time in his NHL career he's reached 50 goals in fewer than 50 games.
1991:Midway through his third season with the Kings, Gretzky celebrates his 30th birthday by
scoring three goals
for his 48th NHL hat trick and has two assists in a
5-4 victory
against the visiting Vancouver Canucks. He reaches the 30-goal mark for the 12th consecutive season.
MORE MOMENTS
1966:
Gordie Howe
becomes the first player to appear in 1,300 NHL games. He
has an assist
in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. That same day, Gretzky turns 5.
1975:
Guy Lafleur
scores four goals in a game for the only time in his NHL career. He gets one each in the first two periods, then scores twice in the third period of the Montreal Canadiens'
7-2 victory
against the Penguins at the Forum.
Bob Gainey
finishes with four assists, including three on goals scored by Lafleur.

1991:
Mario Lemieux
returns after sitting out 50 games following back surgery and has three assists in the Penguins'
6-5 win
against the Quebec Nordiques at Le Colisee. Defenseman
Larry Murphy
also has his 500th NHL assist in the game. Lemieux finishes the regular season with 19 goals and 45 points in 26 games, then helps the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup championship.
1997: Lemieux ties an NHL record by
scoring four goals in the third period
of the Penguins' 5-2 victory against Montreal at the Forum. It's the 39th hat trick of Lemieux' NHL career and his 13th four-goal game, matching the NHL record shared by Gretzky and
Mike Bossy
.
2016: Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks becomes the 33rd player in NHL history to reach 1,300 points. The milestone comes when he gets the primary assist on Joe Pavelski's second-period power-play goal in a
6-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche
at SAP Center.
2018:Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins has four goals and four assists to earn MVP honors at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. Crosby scores two goals and has an assist for the Metropolitan Division in a
10-4 victory against the Atlantic Division
in the semifinals, then has two goals and three assists in the championship game, a
10-5 win against the Central Division
. He becomes the first MVP from the Penguins since Lemieux in 1990.