NHL Nugget: Wayne Gretzky's Early Skating at Wally's Coliseum
Walter Gretzky grew tired of waiting in the cold while his three-year-old son, Wayne, skated at a nearby park. This led to the creation of Wally's Coliseum, an outdoor rink built so Wayne could skate comfortably.
This story is featured in today's NHL Nugget, specifically in the "Shinny or Nothing" segment, which highlights Wayne Gretzky's upbringing around the outdoor rink.
Walter realized his son loved the neighborhood rink so much that he refused to leave it, prompting Walter to stop sitting in the freezing car. To solve this, he built Wally's Coliseum the next winter for Wayne, who would later become a Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers.
"Walter Gretzky had enough of freezing in the car while a three-year-old Wayne Gretzky skated at the nearby park, so Wally's Coliseum was born."
Dessart takes fans on a journey through NHL history with the NHL Nugget series. To follow NHL Nugget on social media or read past editions, visit NHLNugget.com.
Summary: Walter Gretzky built Wally's Coliseum so young Wayne could skate without freezing, nurturing the future NHL legend’s passion for hockey.