Wayne Gretzky grew up idolized Bruce Boudreau while growing up in Ontario, Canada. After all, it was Boudreau’s records Gretzky began chasing while playing in the junior-level Ontario Hockey League. Boudreau’s NHL career was nothing like the Great One’s. In fact, Boudreau idolized Gretzky, and joked Monday he only attended a press conference to promote the Jan. 25 game between the Kings and the Ducks because he hoped to get Gretzky’s autograph.

In fact, it was only last season that Boudreau learned Gretzky knew anything about him. Boudreau was with the Ducks on a flight to Vancouver when he noticed Gretzky left him a voice mail message on his phone. Boudreau returned the call, learned Gretzky also would be in Vancouver and the two made plans for dinner. They’ve become friends since the meeting, a pair of Ontario kids all grown up.