“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”
— Wayne Gretzky
Attributed to Wayne Gretzky from interviews in the 1980s. Passed down through sports media and became an NHL motto.
In 1980, at the age of 19, I was nervous and uncertain as I stepped onto the ice to play in my first NHL game with the Edmonton Oilers. I felt the weight of expectations and doubts whispering in my mind. In that moment, I remembered how many times I practiced aiming for the net, knowing that I would miss if I didn't take my shot. Just like I took that chance, I want you to embrace your dreams and remember that you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.