Story Through Our Eyes: December 27, 1977, Wayne Gretzky ‘Blooms’ at World Juniors

Our reporter noted the 16-year-old’s “incredible patience under fire” and described his ability to slip a perfect pass to an open teammate.

Article content

Our Story Through Our Eyes feature, which was very popular with readers in 2019, is back in a new format. On Mondays, we will post more photos from the Montreal Gazette archives that provide insight into the history of our city. .

Article content

“Gretzky flourishes as a youth tournament super-kid,” read a December 27, 1977 headline in the Montreal Gazette.

16-year-old Wayne Gretzky, precociously a star with Junior A Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, clearly had a bright hockey future ahead of her. Our reporter commented on the young player’s “incredible patience under fire” and described his ability to slip a perfect pass to an open teammate.

The photo of Tedd Church appeared in the Gazette on the closing day of the tournament, January 3. Gretzky had been the leading scorer, with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists). The Canadian junior team finished with the bronze medal.

“It was an incredible performance from a boy-man who lacks the size to endure at the junior level and is a very average skater at best, but just overcomes with an incredible sense of the puck, particularly around the opposition net. . Once the puck crosses an opponent’s blue line, defenses start running like chickens in a pen, as he drives his seniors crazy with little fakes, little delays, hard shots, and silky smooth passes. ”Doug Gilbert from The Gazette. wrote. “There is no question that Wayne Gretzky’s future is in professional hockey.”

Article content

Of course it did.

Gretzky, who came to be known as “the Great,” led the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships before their impressive 1988 trade to the Los Angeles Kings. He retired in 1999 with a long list of records.

It’s hard to imagine that hockey fans in Montreal and Quebec City who saw him play at the 1978 World Youth Cup would be shocked.

History Through Our Eyes: Photos of People and Events That Shaped 20th Century Montreal, compiling the original 2019 series in book form, is available online at montrealhistorybooks.com and at local bookstores. A share of the profits of the books sold at the online address will go to the Gazette Christmas Fund.