On the Wings

Wayne Gretzky, Phoenix Coyotes head coach, has announced that he is relinquishing his head coaching duties indefinitely due to family reasons. He is heading to Ontario, Canada to be with his mother, Phyllis, who is currently battling lung cancer. Associate coach Rick Tocchet will step up as interim head coach until Gretzky returns.

“We respect and support Wayne’s decision,” said Coyotes General Manager Michael Barnett. “Family has always come first to the Gretzky’s, as it should. The thoughts and prayers of the Phoenix Coyotes organization, and most surely, those of the entire hockey world, are with Wayne and the Gretzky family at this most difficult time.”