What is the name of Wayne Gretzky's father?

Wayne Gretzky’s father was Walter Gretzky. Walter was much more than a famous hockey parent: he was an influential coach, teacher, philanthropist, and one of the key figures in Wayne’s early development.

Walter grew up in Canning, Ontario, and worked for Bell Canada as an installer and repairman. He was an avid hockey player and studied the game closely, even though he did not become a professional player. At the Gretzky family home in Brantford, he built a backyard rink nicknamed the “Wally Coliseum.”

Walter taught Wayne and his siblings skating, puck control, positioning, and anticipation. One of the lessons associated with him is the idea of moving toward where the puck is going rather than where it has been. Wayne repeatedly credited his father’s guidance for shaping his understanding of the game.

Walter later became known across Canada for charity work and youth hockey involvement. He died in 2021 at age 82. The distractor names are not Wayne’s father; Glen, Keith, Brent, and Kim are among Wayne’s siblings.