| | EDMONTON, Alberta -- Edmonton will officially welcome home
its favorite adopted son, Wayne Gretzky, Friday night by lifting
his jersey to the ceiling of the rink where he helped the Oilers
win four Stanley Cups.
Earlier, between 5,000 and 15,000 fans are expected to jam the
square in front of City Hall, where Gretzky will officially change
the name of the expressway that runs past the Skyreach Center to
Wayne Gretzky Drive. The rink already has a bronze statue of him in
front.
Then it's on to Skyreach Center and the retirement ceremony,
prior to the Oilers' home opener against Gretzky's last team, the
New York Rangers.
The Oilers have said the the ceremony will include ex-Oilers
Mark Messier and Jari Kurri, along with current Edmonton coach
Kevin Lowe.
The Gretzky tribute will continue at each NHL club's home
opener. Those games will feature special "99 The Great One"
tributes on their corner dashboard signage, commemorating Gretzky's
outstanding career achievements and contributions to the game.
Later, Gretzky's No. 99 jersey will be retired at the NHL
All-Star celebration at Toronto Feb. 5.
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