Gretzky In The Hall Of Fame

June 23, 1999 / 6:47 PM EDT / AP

There was no great wait for Wayne Gretzky.

Calling it the Â"icing on the cake,Â" Gretzky made the Hall of Fame on Wednesday with the same ease with which he broke offensive records, bypassing the standard three-year waiting period for inductees.

Â"I used to visit the Hall of Fame, but I never thought I'd be a part of it,Â" said Gretzky, who grew up in Brantford, Ontario, not far from Toronto where the Hall is located. Â"If you work hard, great things can happen. Dreams do come true. I'm living proof of that.Â"

Gretzky, who retired from hockey two months ago, is the 10th player in NHL history to bypass the standard three-year waiting process to enter the Hall.

The other players who didn't have to wait the required three years: Dit Clapper (1947), Maurice Richard (1961), Ted Lindsay (1966), Red Kelly (1969), Terry Sawchuck (1971), Jean Beliveau (1972), Gordie Howe (1972), Bobby Orr (1979) and Mario Lemieux (1997).

Â"It's overwhelming,Â" Gretzky said. Â"Just to be part of the Hall of Fame is really special. I love the game. Everything I have in my life, I owe to hockey.Â"

Joining Gretzky as the new inductees are former referee Andy Van Hellemond and Ian (Scotty) Morrison in the builder category. All will be inducted Nov. 22 in Toronto.

Modest as usual, Gretzky noted, Â"It's a pretty special day for all of us.Â"

Gretzky said his selection by the 18-man committee was Â"a relief. It was nice to get the call.Â"

There was no doubt, though, about Â"The Great One.Â" When he retired this season, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman retired Gretzky's No. 99. Then the Hall waived the usual waiting period in his case.

In 1,486 games with teams in Edmonton, Los Angeles, St. Louis and New York, Gretzky had 894 goals and 1,963 assists for 2,857 points 1,007 more than runner-up Gordie Howe scored in his Hall of Fame career.

Gretzky also scored 122 goals in the playoffs and 56 in the old World Hockey Association to give him 1,072, one more than Howe.

Gretzky, who owns 61 NHL records, was a 10-time scoring champion and a nine-time MVP. He also helped the Oilers win four Stanley Cup championships. With all his accomplishments, he has been the NHL's Michael Jordan admired by fans of all teams.

The 1998-99 season was one of frustration for the 38-year-old Gretzky as he struggled through injuries and Â"feeling more fatigue than I ever felt before.Â"

Since his retirement, Gretzky said he has had Â"peace of mind. I miss the game, but I know in my heart I made the right decision.Â"

Gretzky said his only plans involve moving his family back to California, where he has a home since his years with the Los Angeles Kings.

Gretzky said he had offered his services as an assistant coach for his sons' hockey team, Â"but so far I haven't heard from them.Â"

Van Hellemond was an on-ice official for 25 years in te NHL, officiating in 19 Stanley Cup finals. Morrison was president of the Hockey Hall of Fame from 1986-93 and also served as chairman before his retirement.