"The relationship between Wayne and Walter was incredible," Messier add. " something to be emulated, the way he nurtured Wayne -- a prodigy -- from the very early ages all the way up to the pros when he turned 17. Walter had a way of making everybody feel good about themselves.
And despite being the patriarch of hockey's most famous household, Walter Gretzky, who came from humble beginnings, seemed to have time for everyone -- from old friends or strangers with an outstretched hand. "His kindness was undeniable, his passion was obvious, and his impact was immense," Trudeau tweeted. "My thoughts are with Wayne and the entire Gretzky family, and all who are mourning the loss of Canada's hockey dad."
"It was like he'd given him a car," Lowe said with a grin as Messier laughed on the other end of the video call. "He would have a smile on his face from ear to ear.Walter, who suffered a stroke in 1991 and lost much of his memory, reached a level of fame on par with the Great One. "But I think it speaks to the entire Gretzky family," McDavid said. "It speaks to Wayne and it speaks to Walter himself. Just such good people, and they've done a tremendous amount for the game."
Mark Ritter, a former sports journalist and Brantford resident, drove an hour to the city about 100 kilometres west of Toronto to leave a hockey stick at Walter's reserved parking spot at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.
WOW talk about taking a throwback RETRO trip. I saw a CTV News1 Logo LisaLaFlammeCTV
Walter Gretzky..our nation's Hockey Dad for all fathers whose children have laced up the skates. We are blessed to have known him and saddened to have lost him. Our heartfelt sympathies to the family and thank you Mr Walter for your decency and class.
I had the greatest fortune of seeing that man almost everyday in my youth 🥰. He put the “ great “ in the “ greatest “ !