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Wayne Gretzky remembers his father as a man with 'a heart of gold'

Walter's 'heart of gold'

UPDATE: 1:45 p.m.

Wayne Gretzky remembered his father, Walter, as a man with "a heart of gold" today at his funeral in Brantford, Ont.

Known as Canada's hockey dad, Walter Gretzky died Thursday at age 82 after battling Parkinson's disease and other health issues in recent years.

Wayne Gretzky, the oldest of the family's five children, delivered an emotional eulogy, saying of his late father, "We'd be a way better world if there was so many more people like my dad."

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the funeral service limited to family but crowds gathered outside the church located in the city located about 100 kilometres west of Toronto.

A small memorial sprung up for Walter Gretzky outside the arena that bears his son's name here yesterday.

Two hockey sticks — one full-sized, one miniature — and a Canadian flag adorned the sign marking off Walter Gretzky's parking spot outside the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.

Tributes poured in for the elder Gretzky after his death was announced by Wayne late Thursday on social media.


UPDATE: 11 a.m.

Walter Gretzky's funeral is being broadcast on TSN.ca Saturday morning, beginning at 11 a.m.

The father of Wayne Gretzky died at the age of 82 last week.

To watch the funeral coverage, head here.


ORIGINAL: 7:20 a.m.

The funeral for hockey legend Wayne Gretzky's father Walter will take place today in his hometown of Brantford, Ont.

TSN has tweeted it will have live coverage of the 11 a.m. PST funeral.

The service takes place two days after Walter Gretzky died at the age of 82.

A small memorial sprung up for Walter Gretzky outside the arena that bears his son's name in Brantford on Friday.

Two hockey sticks — one full-sized, one miniature — and a Canadian flag adorn the sign marking off Walter Gretzky's parking spot outside the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.

Tributes poured in for the elder Gretzky after his death was announced by his son late Thursday night.



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