It was the start of something great. Wayne Gretzky notched his first NHL goal as an 18-year-old hotshot on October 14, 1979.

In the Edmonton Oilers’ third game of the season, Gretzky scored a power-play goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period. His man-advantage tally from close range tied it at 4-4 with 1:09 remaining in the period at Northlands Coliseum. (Glen Hanlon’s name will be forever linked to the Great One —  he surrendered the goal.)

That goal secured a 4-4 tie for the Oilers, who previously played in the World Hockey Association.

As an NHL rookie, Gretzky scored 51 goals and won the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the league MVP.

In November 1979, Sports Illustrated noted that “Gretzky made the step to the NHL as easily as he has made every other step during his brief but well-chronicled hockey career, scoring seven points in his first five games against established clubs.” 

Gretzky retired in 1999 as the NHL’s all-time leader in goals (894) and set a slew of other remarkable records. Check out The Hockey Writers’ compilation of his career accolades, milestones and records.

What was the biggest reason for his astonishing success?

Perhaps he once gave the best explanation by simply saying, “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”