By the Letters: The Greatness of “G”—Gretzky, Goal-Scoring, and Gloria
In the high-octane world of the NHL, letter “G” carries a lot of weight. It’s the character that helps define the record books, fuel the fans' adrenaline, and provide the soundtrack to one of the greatest underdog stories in modern sports.
Gretzky: The Illustrious Career of “The Great One”
You can't talk about hockey history without starting with Wayne Gretzky. Known universally as "The Great One," Gretzky didn't just play the game; he saw it three steps ahead of everyone else. Over a legendary NHL career, Gretzky’s stats are so lopsided they look like typos: he remains the all-time leader in assists (1,963) and total points (2,857). In fact, if you took away every single one of his 894 goals, his assists alone would still make him the NHL’s all-time leading scorer. Gretzky didn't just set the bar; he became the gold standard.
Cool Fact: Wayne Gretzky is the only NHL player to post 200+ points in one season; he did it four times.
Goal-Scoring: The Pure Excitement
While playmaking is an art, ‘Goal-Scoring’ is the ultimate high for fans; beating a world-class goalie within a split second can ‘wake up’ an entire crowd. For decades, Gretzky’s career mark of 894 goals was considered “unbreakable”. However, we've witnessed history in the making as “The Great 8” surpassed “The Great One”. The five greatest goal scorers in NHL history include:
Alex Ovechkin: 921 Goals (as of March 4, 2026)
Wayne Gretzky: 894 Goals
Gordie Howe: 801 Goals
Jaromir Jagr: 766 Goals
Brett Hull: 741 Goals
Gloria: A Stanley Cup Championship Anthem
Then there’s the "G" that came out of left field: Gloria. In January 2019, a few St. Louis Blues players heard Laura Branigan’s 1980s hit "Gloria" at a club and decided it was their new victory song. As hockey fans remember, “Gloria” helped spark a historic "worst-to-first" run, culminating in the Blues' first-ever Stanley Cup. "Play Gloria" helped prove that sometimes a Stanley Cup championship requires a little bit of grit and a catchy melody.
Cool Fact: In 2019, the St. Louis Blues beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup; Jordan Binnington made 32 saves in the 4-1 victory.
The Greatness of “G”
From the magic of Gretzky’s vision to the excitement of watching pure goal scorers to the "Gloria" miracle in St. Louis, letter “G” really does map out some of the NHL's most unforgettable moments. Clearly, the real greatness of hockey is partially hidden in these simple, powerful moments.