Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky made an emotional eulogy for his father, Walter Gretzky, at the funeral service in Brantford, Ontario, in March 2021. He said a heartfelt goodbye to the man who shaped both his hockey career and his character. 

Walter, who was well known all across Canada as the sport's most beloved hockey dad. He passed away at the age of 82 after struggling with Parkinson's disease and a serious hip injury for weeks.

All his family had gathered in mid-February to remember him. But Gretzky told all the members something that made their hearts heavier, "But he had a love for life, and he didn't want to leave," he said. 

Walter’s resilience to live gave his family more time with him. "We were 21 days sitting with him and just enjoying life. We got a chance and opportunity to tell stories," Gretzky said. "He was a remarkable man who loved life, loved family," he said. 

Even though Walter had never played in the NHL, he worked as a Bell Canada telephone-equipment installer for more than three decades.

Despite that, his name carried a lot of weight in Canadian hockey because of what he built and how much he gave to the sport. 

“We'd be a way better world if there were so many more people like my dad," he said, bringing the farewell almost to an end. "A tough time, I'm so proud of the fact that so many people have reached out and given him such great tributes, because he deserves it. He has the heart of gold." 

Gretzky was determined enough to highlight Walter's generosity and the effect it had on everyone around him. As he thanked everyone who had paid their tributes, Gretzky got very emotional and teared up.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the funeral at St. Mark's Anglican Church was limited to their own family. But hundreds of people gathered outside the church, and many of them were children wearing Gretzky jerseys.

A Foundation Built on Ice and Values

Long before everything, Walter Gretzky built a backyard rink, just so his son could skate whenever he wanted. That playground eventually turned into a training ground for the greatest player in NHL history. 

Wayne went on to win four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and set many records when it comes to numbers in goals and assists. And these points remained untouched for many decades.

Wayne consistently said that his discipline and the lessons that mattered most were all passed down from his father. 

He was named to the Order of Canada in 2007. It was for all the contributions he made to minor hockey and charitable work. Walter later became a national spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation after suffering a stroke in 1991.

His influence was clearly spread across multiple generations of players. The values he instilled in his son would remain embedded in Canadian hockey forever.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Koushik Biswas