NHL legend Wayne Gretzky achieved most of his success with the Edmonton Oilers during their dynasty years in the 80s. The Brantford native's four Stanley Cup titles with the Oilers were fueled by more than a hunger to win.

The retired superstar joined the Calm Down podcast with Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson and recounted playing from 1979 to 1988.

During the interview, Gretzky was asked about the secret restaurants that would host the Oilers in their heyday. He primarily highlighted the city of Edmonton before revealing the team's dining traditions at the Legion.

"We always went to the same places and the same restaurants. But whenever we wanted to get together as a group after a practice, it’s kind of funny to say, we’d always go to the Legion,” he said.

Instead of an affluent restaurant, Gretzky and his teammates sought peace at the Legion, which refers to local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion. The organization serves as a hub for both military veterans and the wider community.

The 65-year-old went on to recall the special establishment and fondly remembered the patrons' demeanor and hospitality.

“The people were so nice. We pay our membership fee. The whole team would go in there. It was always quiet. Nobody would bug us. They were always happy that we would come in and see them and be part of it," he recalled. "So the big place for us, we would go to the Legion, and everybody loved it."

And the tradition bore fruit, as Gretzky and his team ushered in an era of success. Although ahead of the 1988-89 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he encountered an entirely different culture.

Unlike in Edmonton, Gretzky recalled restaurants in LA shutting down before midnight. He remembered asking his favorite establishments to stay open for longer and even eating with the late actor John Candy after games.

Despite his surprise exit, however, Gretzky's legacy with the Oilers remains unmatched.

Gretzky’s accomplishments with the Oilers

Wayne Gretzky made 696 appearances for the Edmonton Oilers in nine NHL seasons, scoring 1,669 points (583G/1,086A). Additionally, he amassed 252 points (81G/171A) in 120 playoff games during the stint.

While playing for Edmonton, Gretzky set the records for most points, goals, and assists, each separately, for a single NHL season.

Thanks to individual numbers and title triumphs, the Canadian won the Conn Smythe Trophy twice in 1985 and 1988, and clinched the Hart Memorial Trophy eight times in a row. He also won the Art Ross Trophy seven times as an Oiler, along with receiving the Lester B. Pearson Award five times.

Despite it being nearly four decades since he last played for the Oilers, Gretzky's legendary status with the team endures.

Recently, his Oilers sweater from the Dynasty Years was auctioned for a whopping $2.8 million, the highest bid in history for hockey memorabilia. It was worn in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final in 1988 against the Bruins during the Boston Garden Blackout, and its subsequent replay went down in Edmonton.

What do you think about Wayne Gretzky’s legacy from the Dynasty Years at the Edmonton Oilers? Tell us in the comments.

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Sijo Paul