The national, with Bill Cameron.
B.C>Good evening.
It's hard imagine anyone heading into retirement getting this kind of attention.
Then again, no one else is called "The Great One".
That's Wayne Gretzky.
The master of the game Canadians like to call their own.
Last night, in Ottawa, it was clear that the superstar had played his final hockey night in Canada.
And, today, as Raj Ahluwalia reports from New York, Gretzky finally said the words to make it official.
R.A>After almost a week of stick handling around the question Wayne Gretzky finally answered it.
W.G> It's obvious today that I have officialy retired. And Sunday will be my last game.
R.A>Sharing the moment-- Gretzky's family--wife Janet and sons Trevor and TY.
W.G>I just want to thank everyone.
R.A>As well as his teammates, hundreds of journalist and a live television audience in Canada and U.S.
W.G>It's a gut feel.
R.A>Gretzky says he's known for months it was time to quit.
W.G>I never wavered, I never budged.
I know in my heart I'm making the right decision.
A>Gretzky - scores !!
R.A>For twenty years, Gretzky has been the face of hockey---
It's brightest star and best ambassdor.
"The kid" with the ability to play Canada's game like no one else had before.
To score at will.
A>He scores !!
R.A>To lead the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cups.
Gretzky holds almost every scoring record.
One season he scored 92 goals. But this year only 9.
Still, he says, he has no regrets.
W.G>I made more money in this game than I could ever have thought I would have made,
But I know I earned it all. I know I made some other people a lot of money also.
R.A>Before Wayne Gretzky, hockey didn't have much of a following in the U.S.
His trade to LosAngeles in 1988 changed all of that.
Suddely hockey was "the cool" sports.