Walter Gretzky: On Family, Hockey and Healing

People often ask Walter Gretzky what it's like to be the father of the greatest hockey player who ever lived. In On Family, Hockey and Healing, he tells his story--from nurturing young Wayne Gretzky's talent on the frozen Nith River behind the family farm to guiding The Great One's rise to become the game's most prolific scorer. But the truly inspiring story is Walter's own battle back from a brain aneurysm in the early '90s that nearly killed him. With the stroke, Walter lost much of his memory, his ability to communicate--and his passion for hockey. "The thing was, I couldn't handle a social situation. Not even with old friends. I think it was because at those times, I was confronted with my deficits. I knew that I couldn't really contribute to the conversation, and I felt so lost." The senior Gretzky is now a minor hockey coach and spokesman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Readers looking to groom a hockey superstar will find entertaining anecdotes but little advice beyond the importance of an early bedtime the night before a big game. But for anyone seeking to understand the pain, frustration, and utter isolation of a stroke victim, this book is a must-read. --Carolyn Leitch

Author: Walter Gretzky

Publisher: Random House Canada

Year: 2001