Everyone has a friend and some are better than others, but regardless of being on or off the ice Gretzky’s best buddy was Dave Semenko.

He was better known as “The Bodyguard” who was fortunate enough to play left wing with Oilers’ stars Jari Kurri and Gretzky managing to win a pair (two) Stanley Cups.

While he was the best skater or one that was known with finesse, he played his Junior hockey in Brandon with the Wheat Kings and followed this by nine seasons in the NHL, that included seven-plus with the Oilers before being traded to the Whalers, finishing his career in 87-88 with the Leafs.

He was drafted 25th overall to the NHL by the Minnesota North Stars in 1977 and by Houston of the World Hockey Association the same year.

The Aeros then traded his rights to Edmonton, where he joined the Oilers for the 1977-78 season and played until he was traded to Hartford on Dec. 12, 1986.

He (Semenko) finished his career managing 65 goals, including eight (8) game-winners for a total of 153 points. and 1,175 penalty minutes in 575 NHL regular-season games.

He was involved in 70 fights as well as managing  a combined 17 over his final two NHL seasons.

Simply put he was no slouch and with a frame of 6’3” and a sturdy 215-pounds he took on all comers with a pair of regular “dance partners” who were known as Flames Tim Hunter and Wing’s Bob Probert.

Gretzky grabbed the MVP honors with a four goal performance, stealing it from Canucks John Garrett, who went in to replace Richard Brodeur in the 1983 NHL All-Star Game.

Garrett was voted the game’s MVP before the end of the game, but when Gretzky managed four goals in the last 10 minutes of the game, the car was his and in turn to show his appreciation for Semenko he gave him the car.

Edmonton win its first two Stanley Cups in 1984 and 1985 and he scored the last ever goal in WHA history before the league merged with the NHL.

The Oilers joined the NHL following the folding of the WHA in the 1979-80 season, but it was Minnesota that held Semenko’s rights.

In order to acquire Semenko the Oilers dealt 1979 second and third-round draft picks, one of which turned out to be Neal Broten.

The Oilers then received Semenko plus a third-round pick in the 1979 draft that they used to select center Mark Messier.

He went on to win five Cups with Edmonton and ranks eighth on the NHL’s all-time points list with 694 – not too shabby for a third-round pick!!

In a highly promoted boxing match he (Semenko) went toe to toe in three rounds with boxing legend Muhammad Ali in an exhibition bout in Edmonton on June 12, 1983.

The match was judged a draw, though The Associated Press’ report on the fight said “Ali, a three-time world heavyweight champion, mostly toyed with Semenko.”

After retiring, Semenko became a color commentator on Oilers radio broadcasts and an assistant coach with Edmonton during the 1996-97 season.

He will be missed by everyone he touched and his towering presence was intimidating to most, but get beyond that, he was a “gentle giant”.

RIP Dave. Thoughts to the Family.