EDMONTON, Alberta -- Wayne Gretzky stood at center ice in the building he made famous Wednesday night and saluted the fans.
"My gosh, I wish we could be out there and play for them again but we can't do it anymore," Gretzky said to cheers from thousands of supporters -- most clad in orange, blue and white team jerseys -- in a tribute ceremony to mark the final Oilers game at Rexall Place.
"The greatest thing about hockey is the people you meet," he added.
"The friendships I have, the memories, there's nothing like it. It's the greatest game in the world.