It Was a Great Moment for Hockey in L.A.

Wayne Gretzky, a 27-year-old hockey icon, stood at a news conference and fought back tears, trying to explain why he’d asked the Edmonton Oilers to trade him to the Kings.

It became official 11 years ago today.

The banner headline: “Gretzky Is a Man Who Will Be King.”

“I decided that for the benefit of Wayne Gretzky and my new wife and our expected child in the new year that it would be beneficial for everyone involved to let me play with the Kings,” he said.

Also, there was the career of his wife to consider. He had married actress Janet Jones, from Sherman Oaks.

The man who reluctantly acquiesced was Peter Pocklington, owner of the Oilers, where Gretzky had played 10 seasons, never scoring fewer than 40 goals. In 1982, he scored 92.

“He wants to spend more time with Janet and begin their family life under one roof, in one city and be able to call it home,” Pocklington said.

“The best comparison I can draw to this situation is this: What do you do when an outstanding, loyal employee asks you for an opportunity to move along for logical and understandable reasons?”

Also coming to Los Angeles in the deal were forward Mike Krushelnyski and defenseman Marty McSorley.

Going to Edmonton: Jimmy Carson, a center, Martin Gelinas, the Kings’ top draft pick, and the Kings’ first draft picks in 1989, ’91 and ’93. The Oilers also obtained rights to defenseman Craig Redmond, and more than $10 million.

Also on this date: In 1969, Buffalo Bill rookie O.J. Simpson ended a months-long holdout and signed for $400,000 for four years. . . . In 1969, longtime Washington Redskin owner George Preston Marshall died at 72. . . . In 1988, Cheryl Miller’s basketball playing career ended when, because of a knee injury, she was cut from the Olympic team trials. . . . In 1979, Walter O’Malley, the man who took the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, died at 75. . . . In 1902, the Boston Red Sox are sold for $150,000.