2007-03-13 06:31:05 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Hockey
His favorite hockey player was Gordie Howe who always wore the number 9. So Gretzky chose 99 in honor of Howe, because the number 9 was already being used by one of his teammates.
2007-03-13 06:39:44 · answer #1 · answered by Cherokee Billie 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Gretzky was always a fan of Gordie Howe, who used to wear number 9. Gretzky wore number 9 in minor hockey until one year when the number 9 was chosen by another kid before him. However, all was not lost for Wayne, as he decided to wear two nines on his jersey, and thus the number 99 stuck with him the rest of his playing career.
2007-03-13 08:15:52 · answer #2 · answered by Me 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when Gretzky as a kid his fave player was Gordie Howe and he always wore number 9. when he got in to the Juniors he wore numbers #19 and #14 cause of other were already wearing number 9 and wasn't going to take the number away from there captain at the time. well the coach of the Soo St-Marie Greyhounds notice that when Esposito was traded to the Rangers his #7 was taken so he ended up with #77, so the coach of the Soo put another 9 beside the other 9 to make it #99 and the rest is history.
when Gretzky played his one game with the Indianapolis Racers he joined the team and they didn't have time to give him #99 so he wore #14 for the last time then he moved to the WHA Oilers then NHL Oilers and always wore #99.
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
2007-03-13 06:52:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Gretz couldn't get 9, his choice because of Gordie Howe, so he took 99. The rest is history.
2007-03-13 07:38:12 · answer #4 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Better ones are Jagr's 68'-because the year of the Praugue Spring Rebellion and his grandfather died in prison and my favorite is Sid Crosby's 87, born 8-7-87. On a related matter, until this year, not even every number was used- I do believe that Lantrandesse of the Habs is the first ever #84.
2007-03-13 06:57:06 · answer #5 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Gretz wore no. 9 as a kid. But when he got to Sault St. Marie, someone already had the no. 9, so his coach suggested double 9s. The first game he wore no. 99 he scored a hat trick and he's donned his famous 9s ever since.
2007-03-13 13:44:23 · answer #6 · answered by hockey craze99 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz gordie wore 9 and he just put 99, then Mario came around and said he is going to turn waynes world upside down and chose 66!
2007-03-13 10:22:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
didnt he choose it?
btw a fact that im not sure of: SUPPOSEDLY Lemuiex choose 66 as his number because it is 99 backwards. SUPPOSEDLY.
as a Pens fan i doubt it, because Gretzgey has never scored 5 different ways within one game, but still...
2007-03-13 09:10:06 · answer #8 · answered by shotgunmerc 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He chose it himself (b/c of Gordie Howe)!
2007-03-13 09:10:16 · answer #9 · answered by Ritz (loves The Hush Sound) 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He didn't get assigned the number, he chose it.
2007-03-13 06:34:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋