Gretzky Will Have to Wait and See on Back Injury

A back injury has knocked Wayne Gretzky out of the Canada Cup tournament. The Kings just hope it won’t affect their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Gretzky was hit from behind Saturday night, causing a flare-up of the back injury that sidelined him for several weeks two seasons ago.

“The last time my back was hurt like this,” Gretzky said Sunday in Toronto, “the doctor said he could probably fix it in a week if it happened again. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Gretzky will miss the one or two games remaining in the best-of-three Canada Cup tournament finals between the United States and Canada. No decision has been made whether Gretzky will play in any of the Kings’ preseason games. The regular season starts Oct. 4.

Gretzky is suffering from back spasms after being cross-checked from behind by Gary Suter, but feels well enough to remain at the tournament. Gretzky also suffered a sprained knee, but that is believed to be less serious.

When he was hurt in the spring of 1990, Gretzky sat out five regular-season games and two playoff games.

It was a long weekend for Kings owner Bruce McNall, also the owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Toronto receiver Raghib (Rocket) Ismail was hospitalized with a concussion suffered Sunday against the Calgary Stampeders and Argonaut quarterback Matt Dunigan suffered a shoulder separation.

“When I heard all that,” thoroughbred owner McNall said, “I decided to scratch all my horses today.”

Mark Vermette’s two goals led the Quebec Nordiques past the Kings, 3-2, in an exhibition at Madison, Wis. Charlie Huddy and Sean Whyte scored for the Kings.