At 17 years of age Wayne Gretzky scored his first professional hockey goal as forward on the Indianapolis Racers.

The Indianapolis Racers were a World Hockey Association (WHA) team owned by Nelson Skalbania, a businessman who is best known for signing the young Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth $1.75 million.

Gretzky potted his first professional goal on October 20, 1978 against none other than the infamous Edmonton Oilers. This first of 2 goals, scored in only his second career game marked the beginning of a long record-setting career in professional hockey.

His short-lived career with the Racers lasted a mere 8 regular season games before he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in a multi-player deal.

The Racers franchise folded on December 15, 1978 and in doing so it cemented one of the greatest origin stories in all of Hockey History.

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