Wayne Gretzky left such an impact on the sport of hockey that he will be forever known as “The Great One.” Like many players, Gretzky’s roots trace back to a hockey-crazed Canadian town: Brantford. The city is also famous for being the one-time home of Alexander Graham Bell and site of his invention of the telephone, but its most famous son is almost certainly Wayne Gretzky. Born in Brantford in 1961, Gretzky spent most of his childhood at an unassuming home on the north end of town.
Nicknamed the “Wally Coliseum” due to the ice hockey rink that the Gretzky family built out back, Wayne spent a lot of his childhood honing his skills at their home at 42 Varadi Avenue. In fact, that backyard rink is where his father Walter taught him how to play.
Today, the home is privately owned, but fans who want to pay homage to Gretzky’s upbringing can check out a plaza and statue dedicated to The Great One at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre just a few kilometers away.
Wayne Gretzky’s Childhood Home: 42 Varadi Ave, Brantford, ON N3R 3N3
Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre: 254 N Park St, Brantford, ON N3R 4L1
Stadium51 