Keith Gretzky

Keith Edward Gretzky (born February 16 1967 in Brantford, Ontario) is one of the brothers of famous ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky. Keith was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Phoenix Coyotes on July 12, 2006, after serving the previous five seasons as an amateur scout for both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, and though he attended two training camps and played in several pre-season games, he never played a regular-season game for them.

Playing and coaching career

Keith, Wayne and Brent were taught hockey by their father, Walter. After a moderately successful career in the OHL with the Brantford Alexanders, Windsor Spitfires, Belleville Bulls, and Hamilton Steelhawks, Keith was taken in the 3rd round (56th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. His best season came in 1984–85 when he recorded 31–62–93 in 66 games with Windsor. In 298 OHL games, he collected 113 goals, 222 assists and 335 points.

Gretzky played five seasons in the International Hockey League with the Flint Spirits, San Diego Gulls and the Phoenix Roadrunners (28 goals, 51 assists, and 79 points in 132 games) and two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans (11 goals, 37 assists, 48 points in 66 games). Gretzky also played one season in the East Coast Hockey League with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. He then played two seasons in Europe with Ketterä in Finland's Suomi-sarja, and the Ayr Raiders in the British Hockey League.

After retiring from professional hockey in 1993, Gretzky turned to coaching and began his career behind the bench with the Tri-City Americans (WHL) as an assistant coach. After one season with Tri-City, he moved to Bakersfield where he became the head coach of the WCHL's Fog. Gretzky coached three seasons with the Fog (1995–1998) before leaving to coach the Asheville Smoke of the UHL for two seasons (1998–2000). He was also General Manager with the Smoke.

He joined the Coyotes organization in 2001.

Trivia

*Keith appeared in a soft drink commercial (7-UP) with brother Wayne. Keith had the punchline in the ad: "I taught him everything he knows".
*Keith coached brother Brent with the Asheville (N.C.) Smoke of the UHL.

ee also

*Gretzky Family
*Notable families in the NHL

External links

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* [http://www.kskssports.com/ksks_sports/hockey_news/images/hn_8_02.jpgKeith and Wayne Gretzky on the cover of The Hockey News ]