“I’m so embarrassed,” said Wayne Gretzky while chasing Gordie Howe’s record. But what was the embarrassment all about? Gretzky’s deep reverence for Howe’s legacy. “Gordie Howe is the greatest hockey player ever lived, and he always will be in my eyes, and he’ll never change,” he had said back in the day. And fast forward to today, and it’s Walter Gretzky, the legend’s father, whose words ring prophetic as if he had foreseen Alex Ovechkin surpassing his son’s record someday!
Thanks to assists from Dylan Strome and John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin now stands at 894 goals one goal away from going past The Great One. Gretzky himself his following the captain’s journey—be it from the stands, or hyping up the Capitals star on broadcast panels. And in doing so, he is following his father’s advice. But what was it?
All thanks to reporter Ben Raby, who posted it on X. The post expressed how Gretzky has said for years that he’d support Ovechkin breaking the record because it’s a tribute to his late father, Walter, who once said, “You make sure you have the same dignity & respect when the guy breaks your record, that Gordie Howe has shown you.” Not just a suggestion, but a task to be fulfilled!
Gretzky has said for yrs that he'd support Ovechkin breaking his record
It's a tribute to his late father Walter
"You make sure you have the same dignity & respect when the guy breaks your record, that Gordie Howe has shown you," Walter told 99
From Spitting Chicklets (2023) pic.twitter.com/23iqCbxiOC
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) April 4, 2025
Looking beyond the spotlight and mere records, Walter knew what greatness truly meant. “But my dad was so ahead of his time. He’s like, you know, Gordie’s so proud of you. You be proud of the guy that breaks your record,” said Gretzky. And here we go—with Ovechkin on the brink of history and Gretzky right beside him, the symmetry of greatness just seems undeniable.
The post Embarrassed Wayne Gretzky Confessed Father’s Strict Advice on Alex Ovechkin’s Record Chase in 2022 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
