NEW YORK -- Hockey fans of a certain age tend to remember where they were on Aug. 9, 1988, when the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was working for the NBA 25 years ago and doesnt recall exactly where he was. His most vivid memory came a couple of weeks later when he saw the Aug. 22 Sports Illustrated cover that featured Gretzky and Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson. "Remember thinking at the time that that demonstrated a huge step forward for hockey and its credibility," Bettman told The Canadian Press on Thursday. "It was obviously something that, in the annals of sports, was one of those seminal events that gets a tremendous amount of attention because of its import and impact." Sports Illustrateds cover read, "Great move, Gretzky." At the expense of the Oilers and their fans, it also turned out to be a great move for hockey in the United States, which benefited from expansion and an infusion of players at the youth level. "People paid attention to hockey in places where they might not have focused on it as much, and it was clear there was a great deal of interest in the game," Bettman said. "Waynes presence in L.A. was the catalyst for that." When Gretzky arrived in Los Angeles, The Forum wasnt a loud or intimidating place to play. Sellouts and celebrity appearances became the norm, thanks to the NHLs biggest star. Not long after, Gretzkys impact was felt beyond Los Angeles. The league added a second California team in 1991 with the expansion San Jose Sharks and a third in 1993 with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Bettman became commissioner several months before the Mighty Ducks and Florida Panthers debuted and the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas and in the midst of the Tampa Bay Lightnings first season. The leagues expansion across the Sunbelt continued under Bettmans watch, due in no small part to the Gretzky trade. "It was the reaction of people to the game," Bettman said of the cause and effect. "Waynes presence in L.A. and the success the Kings had demonstrated that hockey had credibility in so-called newer or non-traditional markets." Gretzky was never able to lead the Kings to a Stanley Cup. In 2012, they became the fifth team in a "non-traditional market" to do so, joining the Stars, Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes and Ducks. Small-market teams arent immune to financial difficulties like what the Oilers dealt with leading to the trade. But no longer can owners get $15 million for a player like Peter Pocklington did from Bruce McNall for Gretzky. And changes to the NHLs business structure have given them increasing ability to compete. "As you see from looking at how the games been played and the playoff races and the regular-season races, we have perhaps the best competitive balance that not only we have ever seen but that any sport has ever seen," Bettman said. "Every team has a chance of making the playoffs, you see that, and playoffs are incredibly not just entertaining but unpredictable." Wholesale Kings Jerseys . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Cheap Los Angeles Kings Jerseys . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. http://www.cheaplosangeleskingsjerseys.com/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Cheap Kings Jerseys . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. WICHITA, Kan. -- Rauno Nurger scored 14 points to lead a 54-point bench performance, and Wichita State easily handled South Carolina State 85-39 in a season-opening win on Friday night.None of Wichita States starting five scored in double figures. Instead, Nurgers 14 points led the Shockers in 16 minutes played. Markis McDuffie added 11 points and seven rebounds. Rashard Kelly, a starter, had nine points and nine rebounds.Greg Mortimer led the Bulldogs with 14 points, and Eric Eaves aadded 10.dddddddddddd. 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