NHL teams
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN Senior Writer 7y

Wayne Gretzky named partner, vice chair of Oilers' parent company

NHL, Edmonton Oilers

The Great One is back where his legend was created.

Wayne Gretzky was named Wednesday as partner and vice chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Edmonton Oilers, which he led to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.

Gretzky last month was hired by the NHL to act as an official ambassador during the league's centennial year celebration.

"I've had opportunities over the last three, four or five years to be involved in the NHL," Gretzky said. "I chose to step back and take my time. We felt like this was a really great opportunity for me to get back in the game and do what we all want to do: win a Stanley Cup. I'm privileged and proud to be back as an Oiler."

Now he's back working with an NHL team for the first time since he stepped down as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes in September 2009.

"I'm nervous for a hockey game tonight," Gretzky joked when speaking with ESPN. "It's been a while!''

Bob Nicholson, the CEO of the Oilers Entertainment Group, had a longstanding relationship with Gretzky dating back to when he was president of Hockey Canada and named The Great One executive director of Team Canada for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Torino Games.

Gretzky also has a good relationship with Oilers owner Daryl Katz and there has long been speculation that some form of role for Gretzky would eventually happen in Edmonton.

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