The father of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, Walter Gretzky, has passed away at the age of 82. Wayne Gretzky tweeted the news on Thursday, writing that his father “bravely battled Parkinson’s and various health difficulties over these last few years, but he never let it get him down.”
Hockey Legend Wayne Gretzky Shared His Father With a Nation
Wayne Gretzky once said of Bobby Orr, “He was the reason I fell in love with the game of hockey.” He was the proudest Canadian we know, and he was the one who encouraged me to be the best hockey player I could be. We will miss dad so much, but knowing that he is back with our mom offers me and my family peace.
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It was in 2005 that Phyllis, Walter’s wife, passed away from lung cancer.
Walter’s parents were foreign settlers from Belarus, and the family settled in Ontario. For “his contributions to minor hockey in Canada and for his dedication to supporting a variety of local, regional, and national organisations,” he was awarded the Order of Canada in 2007.
He built a backyard rink so his son could learn to play hockey.
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Last Words
Wayne Gretzky’s father helped him develop a keen eye for the action by engaging in regular shooting drills with his son, as he recalled in his autobiography from 1990.
“You must have eyeballs in the back of your head,” he wrote. “Hogwash. I’ve just learned to anticipate what will come next. It’s anticipation. It’s not God-given, it’s Wally-given.”
Wayne Gretzky posted on Twitter, “Janet and I regret to inform you of the demise of my father. These last few years, he has courageously fought off Parkinson’s disease and other health problems. Continue reading and Thanks for reading our article Hockey Legend Wayne Gretzky Shared His Father With a Nation.
