Monday, Aug 23, 1999

Great One Lands in Radnor

By Damian Stamm

 

RADNOR, PA -- It was a heck of a birthday for the owner of the Radnor Rink Rats.

On August 15, the commissioner of the Ultimate Hockey League turned 23-years-old. But most importantly for his team, he came up with the gem of the first ever full free agency period.

Wayne Gretzky was coming to town.

The Rink Rats signed Gretzky to a one-year contract with terms left undisclosed. The player who holds more National Hockey League records than anyone else has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. It was the culmination of the most active recruitment effort ever by the organization.

"I think another thing that sold me on the city is when GM Damian Stamm flew me into Radnor," said Gretzky. "At the airport were pretty much the entire city out there to greet me. That was overwhelming...and how do you say no to 50,000 people?"

"This is a great, great day for Radnor hockey," said Stamm in a late press conference, that took place at 10:30 p.m. Sunday evening. "We worked extremely hard to get him into town. We needed help at center and we got the greatest playmaker of all time.

Stamm stated that a main reason he believed Gretzky was coming to Radnor was to win a cup in his final year. Radnor has all the talent it needs on right wing, defense, and in net. The problems were at center and left wing. With Joe Juneau moving to left wing and the retirement of John Cullen, the squad was left without a second line center.

"There is only one reason why I signed with the Rink Rats," said Gretzky. "I want to retire holding the cup. The Menace are a great team with Fleury, Ohlund, Nedved, and Fiset. Linden is a great team leader as well. However, I just think the Rink Rats are in a better position to win the cup this season."

The team does not appear to be landing a major left wing acquisition any time soon. Juneau will likely lead the top line with Calder candidate Chris Drury playing on the second line with Gretzky.

Gretzky is expected to play on the second unit in regular and power play units.

"One of our biggest problems has been scoring goals," said Stamm. "The fact is we just have not gotten consistent scoring from our depth levels. With this squad next season that should definately change."

One reason Greztky is believed to be joining the team is the Mario Lemieux factor. The former Mississauga Monarch lead his beleagured squad all the way to the seventh game of the Calder Cup finals. Despite playing with a team that included former Rink Rat Mark Fitzpatrick as it's starting goaltender, the Lemieux lead the entire playoffs in scoring. The team endured many distractions including the sudden resignation of it's owner. But Lemieux single-handedly kep the team going until the Rink Rats won their first (and to date only) Ultimate Cup.

In the NHL, Lemieux is in the shadow of Gretzky. But for the Great One, the UHL is where he has yet to make his full mark. He has never won an Ultimate Cup.

"This is Wayne's chance to make his mark on the UHL," said Stamm. "It's now or never for him."