macpherson's coaching career including the winnipeg monarchs, winnipeg clubs, portage terriers, sault ste. marie greyhounds, jersey aces/hampton aces, richmond rifles, new westminster bruins, drumheller miners, burnaby bluehawks and the langley eagles. while with the greyhounds during the 1977–78 omjhl season, macpherson coached wayne gretzky. gretzky requested to wear # 9 for his idol gordie howe, but that number was already taken by linemate brian gualazzi. macpherson suggested wearing two nines would be better than one. from that season on, gretzky has always worn the legendary # 99.