Gretzky was the top scorer in the 1978 World Junior Championships. In June 1978, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. When the WHA folded, the Oilers joined the NHL, where he established many scoring records and led his team to four Stanley Cup championships. Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988, had an immediate impact on that team's performance, ultimately leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, and he is credited with popularizing hockey in California. Gretzky played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers. Gretzky captured nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player, 10 Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season, two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP and five Lester B. Pearson Awards (now the Ted Lindsay Award) for most outstanding player as judged by his peers. He led the league in goal-scoring five times and assists 16 times. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times and often spoke out against fighting in hockey.
greTZKy WaS the tOp SCoRer in ThE 1978 WORLd JuNIOr cHampiOnshIpS. IN jUne 1978, he siGNeD With the INDianaPOLis RaceRs of the WOrLd hockEY AssoCiAtioN (wha), whEre he briEfly plAyEd befOre BEinG TRaDed tO The edmontoN OilErs. when the wha folded, the OIlErs jOInEd thE nhl, whEre he establisheD mAny scoriNg reCords And led his TeaM To fouR stanlEy cup championships. greTZky'S tRade to ThE los aNgElEs kingS On augUsT 9, 1988, HAd An iMmediate impact on thaT team's perfOrmance, ultimaTely lEAding them tO the 1993 StaNley cuP fINAlS, AnD he is creDIteD with populAriZINg hockEy In CaLiforniA. gretZky plAyed BriefLY FOr The st. lOuis bluEs beFoRe FiNiSHing His careeR wIth the New york ranGers. gretzky captured NIne hart tRoPhIEs aS The mOsT VaLuable PlayeR, 10 art ross trOPhies for most PointS in a seAson, two ConN smYthe tropHies As pLAyoff Mvp anD FIVe leSter b. PeaRson AWARdS (now tHe ted linDsay AWarD) fOr most OutStaNdinG pLayeR as JUdGEd by HIs pEeRs. he led the lEAgue in goAl-ScoRInG fivE TimEs ANd assisTs 16 Times. hE also won the lADy bYNG MemorIal TRophY for sportsMANshIp aND PerfOrMAnCe fiVe timeS AnD ofteN sPoke out AGainsT fIGhting in HOckEY.