Alberta-based electrical company TransAlta Corp. has
signed Wayne Gretzky to a "multi-year sponsorship,"
according to Carol Howes of the FINANCIAL POST. While
details still need to be finalized, TransAlta President &
CEO Stephen Snyder said, "We thought that an association
with Wayne would be great for the province and great for the
company, so we phoned and he said yes." Snyder said Gretzky
"would like to explore some other possibilities" with the
company beyond the endorsement deal (FINANCIAL POST, 4/29).
IN-LINE FOR LARGER ROLE? In Minneapolis, Melissa Levy
reports that Gretzky, a major shareholder of MN-based in-
line skates and hockey products manufacturer First Team
Sports and a board member and exec of its subsidiary
Hespeler Hockey, "will be taking on a broader role" with the
company. Under a seven-year deal signed in March '97, First
Team pays Gretzky $349,500 a year, and now company execs
want him to "provide input on product design, represent the
company at trade shows and persuade more" NHLers to wear
Hespeler gear. Currently, "about" 35 NHL players use
Hespeler's hockey equipment. Gretzky: "We intend to grow
Hespeler into a leader within the industry for both quality
and innovation" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/30).
TV TIME: In Toronto, William Houston reports "industry
sources" who say that Gretzky "will receive a serious offer"
from ABC and "perhaps also from" the CBC and CTV for a TV
commentator position (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/30). Gretzky will
appear on ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" Sunday (THE DAILY).