When the phone rang in his Brantford home yesterday Walter Gretzky said he had no idea it would be his son Wayne telling him he is no longer going to be involved with the Phoenix Coyotes or the National Hockey League.
"I was stunned," said 70-year-old Walter, adding he can't imagine his 48-year-old son Wayne not having some connection to hockey.
He was reacting to Wayne's statement calling it "a difficult decision that I've thought long and hard about" to step away from the Coyotes.
Wayne stepped down as head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes yesterday.
"I can't believe it," Walter said. "Huge isn't the word for it. It's disastrous."
The country's most famous hockey dad said his legendary son is going to shift his focus from the ice all together and put his attention to football and baseball.
"He said he is going to spend more time with his 17-year-old son Trevor, who is a 6-foot-5 quarterback and has to decide whether to go to college for football or baseball."
Wayne Gretkzy and the NHL parting ways?
Say it ain't so? It seems to have happened.
Walter said through the whole legal process with the NHL and Jim Balsillie his son was in a tough spot and caught in the middle. "He told me he wanted the team to stay in Phoenix but he also wants Hamilton to get a team too."
CHML Radio host Bill Kelly was saying last night that Hamiltonians were "understanding" that he was stuck in a "financial" mess and will be forgiving. But will Wayne Gretzky and the NHL get back together again?
"He's had it," said Walter. "That is the impression I got."
He said Wayne expressed to him "his disappointment" and that he "didn't get the backing of the NHL" and is "all on his own."
Yesterday's announcement certainly appears to be a very public divorce between the NHL and its greatest ever player and highest paid coach.
