The Canadian hockey legend known as B次元官网网址淭he Great OneB次元官网网址� is facing heightened criticism over his political affiliations as tensions between Canada and the U.S. continue to fester.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to make Canada the B次元官网网址�51st stateB次元官网网址� of the U.S., prompting mass criticism from politicians and residents north of the border.
Those critiques appeared to grow louder after CanadaB次元官网网址檚 overtime win Thursday at the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston. Gretzky was Team CanadaB次元官网网址檚 honorary captain.
Terry Jones, a sports writer who covered the Edmonton Oilers for 55 years, said TrumpB次元官网网址檚 stated ambitions to annex Canada have made calls for clarity around GretzkyB次元官网网址檚 views more urgent.
B次元官网网址淚 consider him a great Canadian,B次元官网网址� said Jones, who has written several books about Gretzky. Jones is a also Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.
B次元官网网址淏ut obviously the relationship with Trump has become a focus, and I canB次元官网网址檛 believe in my heart and soul that Wayne Gretzky believes Canada should be the 51st state.B次元官网网址�
GretzkyB次元官网网址檚 connection to Trump has come into the public eye over the past year.
Gretzky and his wife attended TrumpB次元官网网址檚 inauguration in January, and he has been photographed with Trump several times at the presidentB次元官网网址檚 Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Gretzky was also photographed at TrumpB次元官网网址檚 election victory party wearing a Make America Great Again hat.
Prior to his inauguration, Trump called Gretzky a great friend.
B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址楻un for prime minister, youB次元官网网址檒l win,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Trump said. B次元官网网址淏ut (Gretzky) said, B次元官网网址楢m I going to run for prime minister or governor, you tell me.B次元官网网址� I said, B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 know, letB次元官网网址檚 make it governor.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Gretzky has not publicly discussed his political affiliations, leading to questions about his level of support for TrumpB次元官网网址檚 agenda, as the presidentB次元官网网址檚 tariff threats and B次元官网网址�51st stateB次元官网网址� rhetoric ramp up.
GretzkyB次元官网网址檚 perceived reluctance to state his beliefs has affected his reputation among some Canadians, Jones said.
He adds that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 object to the 64-year-old Gretzky attending TrumpB次元官网网址檚 inauguration.
B次元官网网址淚f IB次元官网网址檓 right that (Gretzky) doesnB次元官网网址檛 think Canada should become the 51st state, he should step up and say it,B次元官网网址� Jones said.
B次元官网网址淚 certainly havenB次元官网网址檛 turned on Wayne Gretzky or changed any degree of my absolute admiration for the guy.B次元官网网址�
Frustrations that Gretzky has not sufficiently supported Canada were voiced by fans online after he appeared as honorary captain in a suit and tie at the hockey final. American honorary captain Mike Eruzione wore the U.S. jersey.
B次元官网网址 footage showed Gretzky giving the U.S. team a thumbs-up as he walked to the ice from their bench. He handed the Canadian players hats that said Be Great after the win.
M2NS, a talent agency representing Gretzky, didnB次元官网网址檛 respond to a request for comment.
In 2009, Gretzky was named a Companion of the Order of Canada but has been criticized for not travelling to Ottawa for it.
The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General said in a statement that Gretzky was honoured with the award, and it B次元官网网址渞egularly communicates with recipients to determine their availability to participate in an investiture ceremony to receive their insignia.B次元官网网址�
In Edmonton, where Gretzky made his name as a living legend, some fans are petitioning for a freeway in his name to be changed. Capilano Drive was renamed Wayne Gretzky Drive in 1999 as a tribute to his years with the Oilers, where he won four Stanley Cups.
Petition organizer Grant Prete said his opinion of Gretzky has deteriorated since a photo in November of Gretzky wearing a MAGA hat.
B次元官网网址淚f heB次元官网网址檚 going to flip now and make a statement saying otherwise, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be hard to believe,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 how I feel at this point B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 know what he could do.B次元官网网址�
As of late Friday, the petition had reached 3,800 signatures.
A spokesperson for the City of Edmonton said the city hasnB次元官网网址檛 received any requests to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive.
B次元官网网址淎nyone who wants to make a request for a renaming needs to fill in an application and get letters of support along with other required information,B次元官网网址� Kris Berezanski said in an email.
