Remembering Walter Gretzky: Stories About ‘Canada’s Hockey Dad’

3 years ago  /  The Hockey Writers  /  Read Time: 4 minutes 2 seconds

• Since news broke on Thursday night announcing the passing of Walter Gretzky, tributes have poured in from across the NHL in honor of the 82-year-old father of ‘The Great One’, Wayne Gretzky.
• Seemingly everyone has a story about watching him sign personally-addressed autograph after autograph, having his undivided attention as they told him about their own hockey career or, if you were lucky enough, touring the museum-like basementof his Brantford, Ontario home.
• So it should come as little surprise that we, too, have our own Walter stories.
• To offer one more small window into how Walter was so much more than Wayne’s dad, here are some of the stories shared by our writers.
• He seemed fascinated by my take on the teams and my career path – he just wanted to hear more about me.
• “I went to a Leafs game with my best friend on Wayne’s birthday when I was nine years old against LA (he’s a huge Kings fan) and we met Walter at Gretzky’s Restaurant before the game.
• “I worked as a section host at Rogers Place while I was attending university.
• I heard stories from older work colleagues about Walter’s contribution to Wayne’s career and his effect on the Oilers
• Walter saw everything over Wayne’s career, but he felt his proudest during the Oilers’ dynasty years
• When he saw what I was doing, Walter just glared at me
• We are from different places and cover a wide variety of different teams, but stories of connection to Walter Gretzky have remained universal across much of the NHL

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