Walter Gretzky, the father of NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, died at the age of 82 after suffering from Parkinson's disease as well as other health issues, the family announced.
In a statement posted to Twitter on Thursday evening, Wayne Gretzky said his father was "truly the Great One and the proudest Canadian we know" and called him the reason he fell in love with hockey. Tributes from across the sport poured in for both Walter and the Gretzky family as news of Walter's death spread Thursday.
Gretzky has long credited the rink his father built in their backyard, and his quizzes on the ins-and-outs of the game, as the reason for his success in the sport.