8 Dynasties and Dating

Chapter 8 Dynasties and Dating Wayne and the Oilers won the Stanley Cup again the next year, 1985. They seemed a shoo- in for 1986, too. That division series against the Calgary Flames went to seven games. Five minutes into the third period of the seventh game, the score was tied. Oilers defenseman Steve Smith skated to the net to stop a goal by the Flames. He tried to clear the puck. But the puck hit the Oilers' goalie, Grant Fuhr, on the leg. Then it bounced into the net. The Flames didn't even have to shoot. It was an own goal for the Oilers. Calgary won. Steve Smith sat on the bench and cried.

But Wayne knew the loss wasn't Steve's fault. They played as a team. And they lost as a team. Next season they'd come back stronger. And he was right.

The Oilers won the cup in 1987. Right away, Wayne handed the trophy to Steve Smith. He wanted Steve to be among the first to raise it high. In 1988, the Oilers won yet again. Four championships in five years. People called the

team a dynasty. Wayne Gretzky—with his trophies, records, and leadership—was the most famous person in Canada. In spring 1987, Wayne went to a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. American actress and dancer Janet Jones came over to say hello. The two had met over the years. But now Janet and Wayne really talked. They

realized they had a lot in common. Both came from large families. Both had careers at a very young age. They knew the good and bad that came from being famous. And they knew they wanted a normal life, with lots of kids. They fell in love. Janet had never seen a hockey game. Right away she loved the excitement of the sport. She cheered Wayne on all through the 1987–1988 season, and his fourth title with the Oilers. JANET JONES JANET JONES GREW UP OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, THE SECOND YOUNGEST OF SEVEN

CHILDREN. A TOMBOY, JANET PLAYED SOFTBALL AS A YOUNG GIRL. BUT HER REAL LOVE WAS DANCE. SHE MOVED TO HOLLYWOOD, FINDING WORK AS A MODEL AND DANCING ON THE TV SHOW DANCE FEVER. MOVIES FOLLOWED; HER MOST FAMOUS ROLES WERE IN THE FLAMINGO KID IN 1984, THE GYMNASTICS MOVIE AMERICAN ANTHEM IN 1986, AND AS A PITCHER IN THE BASEBALL MOVIE A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN IN 1992. But things were shaky with the team. The owner was having money troubles. Wayne was paid $1 million a year. Soon his salary would go up to at least $5 million. The Oilers could save a lot of money if he wasn't on the team. And they could get millions by trading him. There were rumblings of a change. Wayne's family tried to keep the rumors from Wayne. And Wayne blocked out any news. He wanted to focus on hockey. Not business.