Wayne Gretzky’s father Walter has died at the age of 82.
The legendary hockey player announced late Thursday night on Twitter that his father had passed away. Gretzky wrote in part, “He bravely battled Parkinson’s and other health issues these last few years, but he never let it get him down.” (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Gretzky also wrote that his father was “the proudest Canadian we know.” You can read the full statement below.
— Wayne Gretzky (@WayneGretzky) March 5, 2021
Damn, that note was a punch straight to the gut. That one hit me in all of my emotions. Gretzky’s father Walter is famous for the influence he had over his son.
Without Walter, we probably never get Wayne Gretzky.
As Gretzky wrote in the note, Walter “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.”
Losing a family member is never easy. It’s a brutal situation. Losing your father is on a totally different level. Most times, men look up to their fathers as their first role model and their main role model.
You can tell from the way Wayne Gretzky speaks about his father that he feels exactly that way.
It’s a tough situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Gretzky family.
Walter Gretzky has passed away at the age of 82. pic.twitter.com/gupE50VKDD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 5, 2021