"Wasn't good for guys beside me": When Wayne Gretzky admitted to losing control of his bladder during 1987 Canada Cup Finals

In a candid interview on The Howard Stern Show in 1996, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky shared a shocking anecdote from the 1987 Canada Cup. During Game 2 of the final series against the Soviet Union, which went into double overtime, Gretzky was so exhausted that he lost control of his bladder and urinated on the bench.

Revered by hockey aficionados for showcasing some of the most exceptional exhibitions in history, this iconic tournament holds a special place in the annals of hockey. It is the only instance where two all-time greats, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky played on the same forward unit.

The historic game stretched into double overtime, pushing players to their limits. Gretzky vividly described his own exhaustion:

"We went in to double overtime, so I guess the way to compare it it’s like a triathlon, when your body breaks down and you lose control because your skating and working so much."

As he sat on the bench utterly drained, Wayne Gretzky experienced a moment of unexpected vulnerability:

"You just sitting on the bench, and I just was so drained and tired. All of the sudden I was like 'Oh my gosh',” he said on the show.

Gretzky's embarrassment was palpable as he acknowledged the awkward aftermath:

"Wasn't good for the guys beside me."

When interviewer Howard Stern asked Gretzky if he had talked to his teammates about the embarrassing incident, Gretzky responded with characteristic humor:

"It actually did feel pretty good, yeah, but it was embarrassing. I told everyone after, and they were all kind of laughing."

Despite the embarrassing moment, Canada won the game 6-5 in overtime thanks to captain Mario Lemieux's goal, assisted by Gretzky. Lemieux completed his hat-trick with that goal, with all three conversions assisted by Gretzky, who had 5 assists in total that evening. Canada went on to win the Canada Cup on Sep. 15, 1987, with Wayne Gretzky leading the tournament with an impressive 21 points.

Wayne Gretzky's surprising dating tip: What he told daughter Paulina

Paulina Gretzky with Father Wayne (Left), her Husband Dustin Johnson (Right) [via IG/@paulinagretzky]

NHL legend Wayne Gretzky's eldest daughter, Paulina, once shared an anecdote about her father's dating advice. During a 2022 Instagram 'Ask Me Anything' session. Paulina revealed how her four-time Stanley Cup-winning father's dating advice proved invaluable to her while deciding who to date.

As a successful 36-year-old model and wife of professional American golfer Dustin Johnson, Paulina boasts a massive social media following. According to the Toronto Sun, when a fan asked about the best dating advice she'd ever received, Paulina responded:

"The best dating advice I ever received was from my dad. He told me to weigh the pros and cons of dating someone. If there are few cons and many pros, don't rule them out right away. But if the cons outweigh the pros, don't try to be the person who thinks they can change them."

Paulina also disclosed that she sought her father's approval before accepting Dustin's marriage proposal. Dustin apparently made a strong first impression on Wayne Gretzky. By heeding her father's advice and approval, Paulina accepted the proposal. The couple got engaged in 2013, welcoming their first child in 2015 and another in 2017. They eventually tied the knot in April 2022