Canada’s most beloved hockey dad has died.
Wayne Gretzky confirmed on social media last night that his father Walter Gretzky passed away.
He wrote, “It’s with deep sadness that Janet and I share the news of the passing of my dad. He bravely battled Parkinson’s and other health issues these last few years, but he never let it get him down.”
Wayne added, “For me, he was the reason I fell in love with the game of hockey. He inspired me to be the best I could be not just in the game of hockey, but in life.”
Walter Gretzky is survived by his five children: Wayne, Kim, Keith, Glen and Brent, as well as several grandchildren.
His wife Phyllis died of lung cancer in 2005.
Walter Gretzky was 82 years old.
— Wayne Gretzky (@WayneGretzky) March 5, 2021