Keith Gretzky
Encyclopedia
Keith Edward Gretzky is one of the brothers of famous ice hockey
player, Wayne Gretzky
. Keith was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Phoenix Coyotes
on July 12, 2006, after serving the previous five seasons as an amateur scout for both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
and Ontario Hockey League
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
of the NHL
, and though he attended two training camps and played in several pre-season games, he never played a regular-season game for them.
were taught hockey by their father, Walter
. After a moderately successful career in the OHL with the Brantford Alexanders
, Windsor Spitfires
, Belleville Bulls
, and Hamilton Steelhawks
, Keith was taken in the 3rd round (56th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres
. His best season came in 1984–85 when he recorded 31 goals, 62 assists for 93 points in 66 games with Windsor. In 298 OHL games, he collected 113 goals, 222 assists and 335 points.
Gretzky played five seasons in the International Hockey League with the Flint Spirits
, San Diego Gulls and the Phoenix Roadrunners
(28 goals, 51 assists, and 79 points in 132 games) and two seasons in the American Hockey League
with the Rochester Americans
(11 goals, 37 assists, 48 points in 66 games). Gretzky also played one season in the East Coast Hockey League with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. He then played two seasons in Europe with Ketterä in Finland's Suomi-sarja
, and the Ayr Raiders in the British Hockey League
.
After retiring from professional hockey in 1993, Gretzky turned to coaching and began his career behind the bench with the Tri-City Americans
(WHL
) as an assistant coach. After one season with Tri-City, he moved to Bakersfield where he became the head coach of the WCHL
's Fog. Gretzky coached three seasons with the Fog (1995–1998) before leaving to coach the Asheville Smoke
of the UHL for two seasons (1998–2000). He was also General Manager with the Smoke.
He joined the Coyotes organization in 2001.
Keith appeared in a soft drink
commercial (7-UP) with brother Wayne. Keith had the punchline in the ad: "I taught him everything he knows".
Keith coached brother Brent with the Asheville (N.C.) Smoke of the UHL.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
. Keith was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
on July 12, 2006, after serving the previous five seasons as an amateur scout for both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
and Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and though he attended two training camps and played in several pre-season games, he never played a regular-season game for them.
Playing and coaching career
Keith, Wayne and BrentBrent Gretzky
Brent Gretzky is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, and the brother of Wayne and Keith Gretzky. He briefly played in the National Hockey League for the Tampa Bay Lightning....
were taught hockey by their father, Walter
Walter Gretzky
Walter Gretzky, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian who has been honoured for his contributions to minor hockey in Canada, and for his dedication to helping many local, provincial, and national charities...
. After a moderately successful career in the OHL with the Brantford Alexanders
Brantford Alexanders
The Brantford Alexanders were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League from 1978 to 1984. The team was based in Brantford, Ontario.-History:...
, Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
, Belleville Bulls
Belleville Bulls
The Belleville Bulls are a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.-History:...
, and Hamilton Steelhawks
Hamilton Steelhawks
The Hamilton Steelhawks were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1984 to 1988. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, and played at Copps Coliseum.-History:...
, Keith was taken in the 3rd round (56th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. His best season came in 1984–85 when he recorded 31 goals, 62 assists for 93 points in 66 games with Windsor. In 298 OHL games, he collected 113 goals, 222 assists and 335 points.
Gretzky played five seasons in the International Hockey League with the Flint Spirits
Flint Spirits
The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985–1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League, and replaced the recently departed Flint Generals team. They compiled an overall record of 162–220–28...
, San Diego Gulls and the Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL)
The Phoenix Roadrunners were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. The team was housed at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team played in the IHL from 1989 to 1997. The IHL Roadrunners were named for a World Hockey Association team of the same name...
(28 goals, 51 assists, and 79 points in 132 games) and two seasons in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
(11 goals, 37 assists, 48 points in 66 games). Gretzky also played one season in the East Coast Hockey League with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. He then played two seasons in Europe with Ketterä in Finland's Suomi-sarja
Suomi-sarja
The Suomi-sarja is Finland's third-highest ice hockey league. Suomi-sarja has 4 divisions. Suomi-sarja has been played since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to this, Finland's third league had been Division II since 1975 and before that the Provincial Series since 1947. During the 1990s the series also...
, and the Ayr Raiders in the British Hockey League
British Hockey League
The British Hockey League was the top-flight ice hockey league in the United Kingdom from 1982 until 1996, when it was replaced by the Ice Hockey Superleague and the British National League...
.
After retiring from professional hockey in 1993, Gretzky turned to coaching and began his career behind the bench with the Tri-City Americans
Tri-City Americans
The Tri-City Americans are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center...
(WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
) as an assistant coach. After one season with Tri-City, he moved to Bakersfield where he became the head coach of the WCHL
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
's Fog. Gretzky coached three seasons with the Fog (1995–1998) before leaving to coach the Asheville Smoke
Asheville Smoke
The Asheville Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played in Asheville, North Carolina from 1998 to 2002. The Smoke were coached by Keith Gretzky from 1998 to 2000. Prior to 1998, the team was known as the Brantford Smoke. The closest rival of Asheville were...
of the UHL for two seasons (1998–2000). He was also General Manager with the Smoke.
He joined the Coyotes organization in 2001.
Keith appeared in a soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
commercial (7-UP) with brother Wayne. Keith had the punchline in the ad: "I taught him everything he knows".
Keith coached brother Brent with the Asheville (N.C.) Smoke of the UHL.
