Humble’ Hockey Legend Wayne Gretzky’s Response to Father’s Criticism Teaches an Important Lesson in Battling Negativity

The NHL champion, Wayne Gretzky, has decorated his career with plenty of awards and recognitions. He even holds 61 NHL records to his name. Gretzky is a legend through and through. However, one time he has to face reproach from one of his close ones.

A while back, Canadian journalist Elliotte Friedman wrote about how one time Gretzky fell prey to criticism from his father. Let’s find out why?

Wayne Gretzky got criticized by his dad

According to Friedman, Wayne Gretzky got criticized only once in his whole career, and that too by his own father. Friedman scribbled the whole incident thoroughly in his report. He wrote, “Wayne was asked if he had received any criticism and then mentioned match 1 of the Canada Cup final in 1987. Canada was behind 4-1 to the Soviet Union but scored four goals in a row. However, the Soviets equalized and won in overtime”.

As Wayne’s team lost the first match, his father reproached him. Explaining this, Friedman wrote, “Walter said that Wayne had been on the ice for too long when the Soviets scored the 5-5 goal”. 

However, Gretzky’s take on the criticism is rather interesting. Based on Friedman’s report, Gretzky ended up making seven assists in the remaining matches. “Then Wayne responded by making seven assists in the last two matches”, added Elliotte.

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Clearly, Gretzky made the best out of the situation and helped his team win the finals of the Canada cup in 1987.

Gretzky’s relationship with his father

Being a hockey player himself, Wayne’s father, Walter Gretzky, coached him from a very young age. Gretzky believes that his father had a great influence on his game of hockey. Interestingly, there are many instances when Gretzky was seen speaking highly of his father. Last year, after his father’s demise, Gretzky paid a heartfelt tribute to him that bought all his fans around the world to tears. 

Hence, it can be concluded that Gretzky loved his father dearly, and he credits his successful sporting career to his dad. 

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