ANAHEIM, Calif. — Wayne Gretzky wasn’t at last night’s Winnipeg Jets game against the Anaheim Ducks. But the Great One’s influence could certainly be felt throughout the jam-packed rink, and around the entire state of California.
More than 25 years after he was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings, one of Gretzky’s greatest contributions to the game is what he’s done to help it grow in this market.
While some southern U.S. states, such as Florida, North Carolina and Arizona, continue to struggle with their NHL teams, there’s been no such worry about the three California-based squads.