Retirement in sports is always a sensitive subject to ponder upon. In 1999, when Wayne Gretzky decided to end his tryst with the hockey field, fans were disheartened. But someone whose heart bore the most burden was the G.O.A.T’s father, Walter Gretzky. After the announcement of his son’s retirement, Walter seemed visibly crushed, just like fans across the world.

In 1999, Walter sat down with CTV News to talk about his son’s decision and his feelings. While the senior sounded dejected, he was hopeful about a few things regarding Wayne’s career. Let’s take a look at what Walter felt about his son’s retirement.

Walter speaks up on the retirement of Wayne Gretzky

The old clip from 1999 shows Walter seated, ready to talk about his son’s decision to retire from his beloved sport. Having involved himself in Wayne’s hockey endeavors since childhood, this was a moment of mixed emotions for Walter. Speaking to the interviewer, the telecom company employee mentioned how he was equally disheartened upon knowing the news.

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In fact, he did not know about Wayne’s decision instantly, since the G.O.A.T chose to tell his mother first. Nevertheless, he was supportive of his son, no matter where his future led him. While the rink may not see his son prancing around to score a goal, Walter was sure that Wayne’s love for hockey would bring him back in some other form. Hinting at a coaching position, Walter believed that this wasn’t the end for his son.

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Despite the hope, Walter mentioned that he was definitely sad. In a heartfelt statement, he mentioned, “kind of an emptiness you know and when you think that, he won’t be playing anymore”. Since his childhood, Wayne has always seen his father helping him with his career in hockey. Whether it was driving down for practice or taking up some huge construction projects for his son, Walter has always been a supportive father.

Back when Walter built his son a rink in the backyard

How far would one go to support and cheer for a loved one? Well, Walter Gretzky had set huge standards when he took up a big construction project for his son.

When Walter would take his son to the local skate parks and ice rinks, he would often freeze in the cold weather. Wanting to support his son and not freeze out in the snow, the senior Gretzky decided to build an ice rink in the backyard of the house. This way, he could watch his son from the comfort of his home without getting cold! The father-son duo has always been respectful of one another and set major goals.

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