AAPEX attendees came for hockey stories, but they left with a crisp leadership playbook for a fast-moving aftermarket. AAPEX Keynote headliner Wayne Gretzky kept returning to habits that scale in any arena. The “Great One” spoke with the calm authority of someone who has spent a lifetime anticipating change. His reflections on teamwork, humility and preparation were drawn from hockey but translated seamlessly to business. In an industry where technology, electrification and supply chain pressures are rewriting the playbook, Gretzky’s message landed with precision. Success depends on knowing where the puck is going and building a team that can get there together.

“When you walk in and you check your ego at the door, then you never stop learning,” Gretzky said.

Build a roster that adapts

Gretzky drew a clean line from sport to business: preparation, unselfish play, respect. He reminded the room that every one in an organziation—be it an aftermarket distributor, manufacturer, supplier, shop, parts store, you name it—plays an important role in success.

“Whether you have guys who plays two minutes, or he’s the goalie, or plays 22 minutes a night, each guy is valuable [on a hockey team],” Gretzky said. Translate that to engineering, sourcing, sales, the counter and the repair bay. If any role is treated as second tier, you’ll feel it in your team.

That culture of shared accountability is what allows great teams—and great companies—to adjust in real time. “Sports teach you about life,” Gretzky explained. “It teaches you how to prepare, how to work hard, how to respect your teammates and your opponents.”

In an aftermarket defined by constant motion, preparation and respect translate into operational strength. The companies best positioned for change are those where cross-functional teams communicate openly, decisions are made quickly and learning never stops.

Align the captains before you brief the room

Every successful organization, Gretzky noted, begins with aligned leadership. “The leaders have to be on the same page,” he said. He recalled a coach who told him and teammate Mark Messier that if the two of them weren’t unified, the rest of the locker room would never follow. The same rule applies to business. If sales, operations and finance leaders send mixed messages, confusion cascades down the line. Alignment means commitment to one clear plan once decisions are made.

For companies facing generational change, Gretzky’s stories noted that the next generation—data-driven, digitally fluent and ambitious young aftermarket professionals—needs mentorship as much as management.

Play the long game with partners

Gretzky’s career was built on loyalty and long-term relationships. “I’ve never been a person that does a one-and-done,” he said. “I like to be with people for the long term.” In business terms, that mindset builds the trust that makes collaboration possible—especially across complex supply chains.

He also spoke about gratitude, sharing how he once gave away every car he won during his playing days to teammates and friends who had helped him along the way. For Gretzky, recognition was about respect. That same generosity applies to business partnerships. Companies that invest in their relationships—with suppliers, distributors and customers—develop the resilience to weather change and seize opportunity.

Facing off with the Future

Wayne Gretzky’s famous quote about skating to where the puck is going isn’t a slogan—it’s a strategy. It’s about vision, preparation and humility. In a market that changes faster than ever, his lessons remind the aftermarket that performance is never a solo act. It’s built, one shift at a time, by teams that stay aligned, stay curious and keep skating forward.