Motivation Quote by Mark Messier

The line points straight to the leadership architecture of the 1980s Edmonton Oilers, a dynasty built not only on astonishing talent but on a deliberate hierarchy and shared accountability. Wayne Gretzky wore the C after Lee Fogolin, setting the tone with unmatched production and an almost obsessive standard for preparation. Mark Messier and Kevin Lowe carried the As, embodying complementary facets of leadership: Messier with edge, drive, and a fierce, physical will that came alive in the playoffs; Lowe with a defender’s steadiness, competitive grit, and a voice respected in every corner of the room.

Hockey’s letters matter. The captain is a focal point, but alternates form the backbone of daily culture, reinforcing expectations in practice, translating the coach’s demands, bridging cliques, and challenging teammates when standards slip. Messier’s phrasing acknowledges a chain of command and an apprenticeship that shaped him. Serving under Gretzky did not diminish his presence; it refined it. Those years taught him how to lead peers as much as to lead on the scoresheet, lessons he later carried when he inherited the C in Edmonton after 1988, drove the Oilers to the 1990 Cup, and ultimately became the rare captain to win Stanley Cups with two franchises, lifting the Rangers in 1994.

The mention of Kevin Lowe completes the picture of a three-man core, linking the Oilers’ beautiful offense to its hard, honest spine. That balance is why the dynasty endured through pressure, spotlight, and roster churn, collecting five championships between 1984 and 1990. The statement quietly underscores a truth about great teams: a captain sets the standard, but sustained excellence comes from a constellation of leaders who enforce it daily. Edmonton’s locker room offered that model, and Messier’s career is one of its clearest proofs.