Flashback to 1989: Wayne Gretzky statue unveiled at Northlands
Where were you 26 years ago today?
It's been 26 years since the giant bronze statue of 'The Great One' was unveiled
Twenty-six years ago today, 'The Great One' — Wayne Gretzky himself — returned to Edmonton for a special ceremony honouring his contributions to the Edmonton Oilers and hockey at large.
The ceremony, held Aug. 27, 1989, took place just one year after he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
As thousands of people looked on, a giant bronze statue of Gretzky, currently outside Rexall Place, was unveiled to mark the occasion.
A noticeably younger Gretzky, with his wife and young child in tow, is obviously overwhelmed by the figure, and makes a joke that it will make it harder for him to return to Edmonton ice playing for the opposite team.