Most hockey fans consider Wayne Gretzky one of, if not the, greatest professional hockey players of all time. But do hockey fans also remember that “The Great Gretz” started his pro career right here in good old Indy? You have to go back to 1978, the World Hockey Association (remember them?), and the Indianapolis Racers. The Racers were among a number of semi-pro teams that have played in Indianapolis and their place in sports history is assured because of the Gretzky story.
The real author of this saga is a man named Nelson Skalbania. Skalbania was sort of the Donald Trump of Canada; he amassed a fortune in real estate. He also acquired sports franchises and would sell the assets off individually and then shut the team down and declare bankruptcy. In 1978 Skalbania bought the Racers but for a specific reason. The team was playing at the Colosseum at the Indianapolis fairgrounds but losing about $40,000 per game. Gretzky was a high schooler in Canada at the time, but was already considered the greatest hockey prospect scouts has ever seen. However, Canadian law at the time forbade the signing of high school athletes to professional sports contracts. The U.S. had no such law. Skalbania was able to sign Gretzky to a personal services contract rather than a standard hockey players contract. That meant that no matter where he played, Gretzky belonged to Skalbania and he was Gretzky’s agent.
The small but loyal fan base in Indianapolis was ecstatic, but Skalbania quickly let them know that Gretzky playing in Indy was a means to an end — not an end in itself. Gretzky was to be the cornerstone for a NHL franchise and that would not be the Racers. Five games went by and Gretzky did not make an appearance with the team. He and Skalbania did make a halftime appearance at a Pacers game as guest of the management. A rumor went around that Gretzky wouldn’t play in Indianapolis at all and Skalbania was going to move the franchise to Canada. Negotiations were in the works to merge the WHA with the NHL.
Gretzky finally made his pro debut against the Cincinnati Stingers on November 25, 1978. The Racers lost that game. The next game was at Edmonton against the Oilers on November 28. Gretzky scored his first two professional goals in a loss to the Oilers. In all, Gretzky would play six home games in Indianapolis to sellout crowds. But it wasn’t enough to cover the season’s losses. Skalbania was accused by the WHA and the media of purposely mismanaging the Racers to lose money so that he would have an excuse to move the team to Canada. Skalbania learned that the WHA would merge with the NHL but only three teams would be a part of that, and the Racers wouldn’t be among them. The Racers had been one of the stronger WHA franchises before he took them over, and there was always talk that they might join the NHL, but that was just wishful thinking on the fan’s and local media’s part.
After he learned that he would not be able to move the team, he no longer had any interest in the Racers. After 25 games, Skalbania folded the Racers team on December 15, 1978. The 1978 season was the last year for the World Hockey Association. Nelson Skalbania sold Wayne Gretzky’s contract to his friend and business associate Peter Pocklington, the owner of the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky helped the Oilers become one of the great franchise dynasties in sports history and became one of hockey’s greatest and most popular players. Skalbania continued to make money flipping expensive real estate properties and building and folding sports teams. He was part of a financial group that purchased the financially struggling Atlanta Flames and brought them to Calgary where they became a successful NHL franchise. In 1982 he was forced to declare bankruptcy in a calculated business move. In 1998 he was imprisoned for theft and fraud for taking money from investors and using it to pay personal debts. He served a year in jail.
He is now 78 years old and still wheeling and dealing.
Indianapolis has always had a loyal ice hockey following. The Chiefs, the Checkers, the Ice, and currently the Fuel have brought hockey to the local fans. Ice hockey will always be a part of the Indianapolis sports scene, and Indy fans can always proudly claim that Indianapolis is where “The Great Gretz” got his professional start.
snicewanger@yahoo.com