Edmonton Oilers hire Gretzky — Keith Gretzky, that is
Wayne Gretzky became known as the ‘Great One’ while leading the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships during the 1980s and now, as the Oilers move into their sparkling new downtown home, a Gretzky is back in Alberta.
On Tuesday, the team announced Keith Gretzky, Wayne’s younger brother, would be Edmonton’s new assistant general manager.
#Oilers announce additions & changes to hockey ops, including Keith Gretzky as Assistant GM: https://t.co/YyU11dPkMi pic.twitter.com/50PiAIaCJz
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 2, 2016
Keith Gretzky worked under Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli in Boston.
“He has ties to the Oilers, his family has a long history with the club, and he wants to see it return to its former greatness,” Chiarelli told the Edmonton Journal.
“They’re a very close knit family, and the success his brother had with the Oilers, you can’t remove yourself from that relationship with the organization.”
Wayne Gretzky statue relocation process from Rexall Place to @RogersPlace is set to begin later this week! pic.twitter.com/drlycqBmJ0
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 2, 2016
Keith Gretzky, 49, had served as the Bruins’ director of amateur scouting.
“It’s one of those things that, when it happened, it kind of hits you,” Keith Gretzky told the Journal. “Wow, it’s Edmonton! I never thought I’d be going to Edmonton. It’s a great situation that I’m really excited about.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 7:50 AM with the headline "Edmonton Oilers hire Gretzky — Keith Gretzky, that is."