Renaming arena doesn't sit well with Gretzky Sr.

Walter Gretzky is scoffing at a media report Copps Coliseum could be renamed after him in an effort by billionaire Jim Balsillie to get his famous son on board in relocating the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton.

Canada's famous hockey dad says he's not in the loop on the machinations now going on to move the team, but says he can't fathom his son, Wayne, agreeing to have the Hamilton landmark renamed to buy his support.

Wayne Gretzky, who has coached the Coyotes for the last four seasons, is a part-owner of the struggling and money losing franchise.

"I think somebody's dreaming," Walter Gretzky said last night, while he was raking leaves at a local church ahead of an annual spring clean up tomorrow. "You can't take it away from (Vic) Copps, geez whiz. You can't do that. Man oh man. He was an icon. Man, you don't do that to anybody. Copps Coliseum has to stay that way."

Gretzky, 70, said he's following developments on the fate of his son's team in the media like everyone else.