Throwback: Wayne Gretzky's wife Janet Jones was once knocked unconscious at a game against the Blackhawks while cheering on her husband

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 17:30 IST

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Wayne Gretzky's wife, Janet Jones, was struck unconscious by a dislodged Plexiglass pane during a New York Rangers match against the Chicago Blackhawks in 1997. Despite suffering a cut to her lower lip, she was taken to the hospital and later confirmed to be OK. Wayne continued to focus on the game, which the Rangers eventually lost.

Throwback: Wayne Gretzky's wife Janet Jones was once knocked unconscious at a game against the Blackhawks while cheering on her husband

Image via Ryan Remiorz/CP

Wayne Gretzky, the former NHL player, has been facing a tough time ever since he got involved in a controversy where fans have accused him of supporting Team USA at the 4 Nations Face Off. His wife, actress Janet Jones, have tried defending him against the trolls but has failed miserably. But there was a time when Wayne Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones, went to support him at a match and ended up unconscious.

Wayne Gretzky’s Wife, Janet Jones, Was Struck By A “Dislodged Plexiglass Pane�?When She Attended A Match In 1997

Ulf Samuelsson knocks out Wayne Gretzky's wife

Back in 1997, Wayne Gretzky’s team, the New York Rangers, was playing against the Chicago Blackhawks when his wife, Janet Jones, decided to support her husband and attend the match.
But an eventful match quickly turned into a disaster when two women, including Wayne Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones and an unidentified woman, were hit by a “dislodged Plexiglas pane�?

Wayne Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones, became unconscious as soon as she was hit on her head by the Plexiglass pane. She also suffered a cut in her lower lip due to the force.
The Plexiglass pane was dislodged when the New York Rangers�?Ulf Samuelsson checked the Chicago Blackhawks�?Sergei Krivokrasov. Both of them ran into the boards which was near the benches after they lost balance,
This caused the Plexiglass pane to be dislodged and struck Wayne Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones on her head.
Janet Jones was taken to St. Luke - Roosevelt’s Hospital in Manhattan while the former NHL player, Wayne Gretzky, concentrated on his game after he was assured about his wife’s health.
As per the New York Times, Wayne Gretzky spoke about the incident and said, “It’s tough to put it out of my mind. It was one of those can’t-win situations when I got out there. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone back out.�?br/>He added, “There really wasn’t a lot for me to do at that time. Kevin Stevens’s wife was with her. We knew at that point that she was going to be O.K. It’s just a matter of precautionary measures.�?br/>While Wayne Gretzky did focus on the match against the Chicago Blackhawks, the New York Rangers eventually lost the match against them.
The pair have been happily married and even Janet Jones never blamed her husband for focusing on the match that day.
Also Read: Wayne Gretzky’s daughter Paulina Gretzky breaks silence and shares a life update amidst her father getting brutally trolled

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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