3 Leaving Home

Chapter 3 Leaving Home Walter coached Wayne and his teammates for years. But when Wayne turned ten, Walter stopped. He thought other parents would complain. They'd think it wasn't fair that Wayne got so much playing time. Even with a new coach, Wayne got lots of ice time. Some parents did resent it. What about their kids? They didn't like Wayne's growing fame, either. They called him a puck hog and other names. They booed when he skated onto the ice. He wasn't even that good, they claimed. All those goals and assists? Just luck. Wayne felt pressure from so many adults putting him down. He thought they were wrong. He played fair. He passed the puck when it was the right move. He wasn't selfish. And he had a high assist record to prove it.

Wayne grew even quieter, afraid to say anything to make the situation worse. But he realized he had a responsibility. People came to watch him play. He had to try his best in every game. And as hard as it was to answer questions, he had to talk to interviewers. It was all part of playing hockey.

Wayne still watched Hockey Night on TV. Now, though, he was serious about strategy— how to win a game. He drew a rink on a pad, and followed moves with his pencil. He studied plays. He wanted to know why the puck went one way and not the other. He understood it was all about angles. Wayne's game improved a lot. But hockey wasn't fun anymore. It was hard to play in Brantford. Everyone had an opinion about him. When he was fourteen, Wayne was invited to

join a junior team in Toronto, the largest city in Canada. Toronto was an hour away. Wayne would have to play lots of late games. He'd have to move away from home. His parents didn't like the idea. Again, they thought Wayne was too young. Wayne, however, convinced them he was ready. Living with family friends would be fine, he insisted. Finally Walter and Phyllis agreed. Wayne signed with a Junior B team, a high- level amateur team, just below semipro. He'd go on to win Rookie of the Year. Even better, Wayne was making friends at his new school in Toronto. He wasn't the Great Gretzky. There, he was just Gretz. Some kids didn't even know he played hockey!

Still, it was difficult being away from home. For two months, Wayne cried himself to sleep. He couldn't wait to go home every weekend. His youngest brother, Brent, was only three years old. Wayne didn't want Brent to grow up not knowing him. In 1977, Wayne turned sixteen. Now he could play Junior A hockey. Junior A is semipro, one step away from the pros. But he'd have to move again. Everyone hoped it would be close to home.

That didn't happen. Wayne wound up in Sault Ste. Marie, 480 miles away.