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My family and I live in Winnipeg and happened to run into Mr. Walter Gretzky this morning downtown. All I can say is what a classy and kind man he is.  My wife and I both recognized him, but were not 100% sure it was him until we heard the rest of his party call him by his name. Even before we were sure it was him, he was extremely friendly and goofing off with my two sons (1 1/2 and 4 years old).

After spending that brief moment with him, we were really impressed with the class he exhibited and he is probably a big part of why Mr. Wayne Gretzky carries himself and presents himself the way he does. I've met both Wayne and Walter now, and have a tremendous amount of respect for both. I'm sure that the late Mrs. Gretzky was a strong back bone for both these men as well.

Men like these two are a shining light in professional sports. They set a good example that more pro athletes and representatives should follow.  Please pass this on to both Mr. Gretzky's and express my gratitude to them for being as classy as they are and for being excellent representatives of a sport that I and many other canadians love so much.

- Bryce Nishimura of Winnipeg, Manitoba

Thank you for this note.

Walter

Wow, where do I begin.  You were my idol when I was growing up and my dream came true on July 1, 2001 in Baddeck during your golf tourney.  I got to meet you and just see you in real time.  I was like a kid in a candy store for sure.  You signed my Rangers jersey right on the back of your famous 99.  I will never forget the moment for the rest of my life.  I cried like a baby when you retired.  I can laugh about it now but it sure did sting for a while and I didn't look at hockey the same for a couple of years.  You were always my role model and I wanted to wish you the best of luck with the young guys you are coaching now.  It must be exciting to be behind the bench and see so much promise and potential from your hockey club.  Keep up the GREAT work.  A fan for life!

- Terry Kelly of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Thank you Terry for submitting this note to the fan page in Facebook.

Wayne

At a CNIB golf tournament 2 years back I was golfing with Walter. He came up to me on the 3rd hole and said, Bobby, do you know what these flags weigh? Not a clue Walter, I said. Walter says, if you picked the darn thing up once in a while you would find out. What a day we had. Thanks for the memories Walter.

- Bobby Dicks of Ontario

Thank you for sending in your story.

Walter

In the early 80's Wayne put on a celebrity tennis classic here in Brantford and many celebs would descend on this virtually unknown city. As you can imagine the pre-setup for this event was pretty big and I remember one year my Dad had a hand in it.

I recall being about 11 or so and My Dad and I dropped off a huge BBQ to the Gretzky residence. Our instructions where to just drop it off in the backyard and as a youngster playing hockey in Brantford, Varadi St was Graceland to us hockey kids.

After hauling the BBQ and heading back to the car I was disappointed to see that there was nobody around. We just about reached the car and Phyllis popped her head out the side door and yelled to me...

"Hi there! Do you like hockey little boy?"

A little flabbergasted my Dad uttered to me...

"That's Wayne's Mom you know."

Phyllis invited me into the house saying she wanted to show me something. I honestly was star-struck. Heading into the house she led me downstairs into the rec room. It looked like every rec room you'd see in any house in our town. Wood paneling, old carpet etc.. I remember there was a beat up old couch down there and I think a big old console television. Fast asleep on the couch (it was around 10am or so) was one of Wayne's teenage brothers.

In the corner of this rec room was a small room about the size of a walk in closet and Phyllis motioned me inside. Upon the hand made shelves on either side of this room were trophies... lots of trophies.

"There are so many trophies in here," she said modestly, "that I don't even know what all of them are for."

There were all kinds of different awards. Everything from official NHL stuff, to Brantford Minor Baseball to Lacrosse.... you name it, it was in there. I noticed too that it wasn't only Wayne's stuff, but Phyllis proudly displayed the accomplishments of all her kids.

Honestly, I can't remember anything much after that. I'm sure she asked me about hockey and where I lived but her words went in one ear and out the other. I was standing in Wayne Gretzky's house, talking to his Mom, looking at official NHL trophies.

What I remember most though was just how normal Phyllis was. She could have been my aunt, or the next door neighbor. She was completely indifferent to Wayne's fame but boy was she a proud Mother.

I've had the chance to meet Phyllis and Walter a few times after that and let me tell you they are just good, down to earth, normal people. It's a shame Phyllis left us when she did. What a real nice lady.

Anyway after my visit to the trophy room I probably blabbed on and on for the next year to all of my friends and team mates on my hockey team about my experience. Interestingly enough my tour wasn't so exclusive because apparently Phyllis had a habit of showing off that tiny room in the basement of the Varadi St home to many people over the years.

Exclusive or not it was an experience that is seared into my memory forever and I'm thankful she was nice enough to do it.

- Jason Gambacort of Hamilton, Ontario

Jason, Thank you for sharing!

Walter

What number did you originally wear as a kid and why?

- Quinten Garcia of Michigan

Hi Quinten, thanks for your question. My very first year that I played organized hockey my sweater number was 11. But I quickly changed that number to 9 the next season so I could be like Gordie Howe.

Wayne

We hear that after retirement athletes have knee issues, back issues and other health problems due to the wear and tear of being a professional athlete. I know that you missed games due to back problems, and once took a nasty shot in the ear; do you have any lasting effects from those incidents?

- Darren Kipfer of Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hi Darren, I was fortunate enough not to have sustained any long term injuries. I did have some injuries as a player but thankfully none have carried over into my everyday life.

Wayne

What were the biggest changes that you noticed in the game of hockey from the time you started in the NHL in 1979, until you played your last game at MSG in 1999. And how (if at all) did you change your game and approach to adapt to the changes as you moved along in your career?

- Trevor Rae of Brandon, Manitoba

Thanks Trevor for your email. The biggest change I noticed in my time as a player was the size, speed and quickness of the guys. From the time I broke into the NHL until my last game the size of the players and overall strength drastically increased.

Wayne