Why Gretzky's legacy just became more complicated for some Edmontonians
Some criticizing Gretzky for not openly supporting Canada; petition in Edmonton seeks street name change
Heather Jeffares, sporting an Edmonton Oilers cap and jacket, recalls using her paper route money to pay for Oilers tickets to watch Wayne Gretzky play and standing outside the church during his wedding.
But she is among the many Edmontonians whose view of Gretzky — an almost saintly figure in this city — has become complicated, amid political tension between Canada and the U.S. and increasing rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump that he wants to make Canada its 51st state.
"It's just confusing what side he's on," Jeffares said. "He's such an icon for Canada, you would think that people like that would rally behind the country right now. We need that."
Gretzky's tie to Trump is being scrutinized, particularly since Thursday night's 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and U.S.
The NHL, which held the competition to replace its all-star game, made Gretzky Canada's honourary captain ahead of the final. Before puck-drop in Boston, Gretzky wore a suit and tie — American honourary captain Mike Eruzione wore a U.S. jersey — and gave a thumbs-up to the U.S. team as he walked to the ice from their bench.
Canada ultimately hoisted the trophy after Connor McDavid, the Oilers' captain, potted the overtime-winning goal. Gretzky handed the Canadians hats that read, "Be great," after the victory.
The final was likely the most politically charged Team Canada hockey game in more than half a century, when Canada squared off against the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series.
"People will argue that sport is no place for politics, but sport is the place to address a lot of the political issues that we're facing because it's the alternative to war," said Jennifer Walinga, a professor of communication and culture at Royal Roads University in Victoria. She also rowed for Canada at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
"They used the ice to stand up for themselves, stand up for their country and really take a stand as fierce and focused," she said. "It was beautiful."
While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to tariff Canadian imports and joked that Canada could become the 51st state of the union. Trump and the U.S. government have escalated that rhetoric since winning the election; stiff tariffs on Canadian goods could start as of March 4.
Gretzky, nicknamed "The Great One" and considered the greatest hockey player ever, won four Stanley Cups with the Oilers before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. He has also represented Team Canada as a player and an executive.
But Gretzky, an Order of Canada recipient, has lived in the U.S. for years and he and his wife are friends with Trump. He attended Trump's inauguration ceremony in January and has visited Trump several times at Mar-a-Lago, the president's Florida home.
In late December, before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, Trump posted on his social media network, Truth Social, that he had visited Gretzky and urged him to run for prime minister, "soon to be known as the Governor of Canada."
Criticism about Gretzky has risen since Thursday's game, however.
Tyler Yaremchuk, a host of the Nation Network and Daily Faceoff, attended the game in Boston among a pro-American crowd. No one booed Gretzky, he said, but his lack of Canadian colours was noted.
"It was a little bit disheartening — as someone who's covering the event, but [who] is also a Canadian hockey fan," said Yaremchuk, who has covered the Oilers for seven years.
The NHL chose Gretzky as honourary captain because "he is one of the greatest and most respected players in the history of the game and a proud born and raised Canadian," a league spokesperson told CBC News.
The Canadian team welcomed Gretzky into their locker room, they added.
Gretzky has not publicly voiced his political beliefs. But patriotism has surged through many Canadians given the perceived threat to the country's sovereignty.
CBC News did not immediately receive comment from M2NS, a talent agency representing Gretzky.
Yaremchuk has noticed people acknowledge Gretzky's impact on hockey — especially in Edmonton — and his work in the community, while others express displeasure or betrayal, he said.
He and Walinga, the B.C. professor, say the recent criticism has less to do with any right or left political leanings, and more with Gretzky — a Canadian and hockey icon from Brantford, Ont. — having not openly supported Canada.
"What we're seeing right now is some tension between the [hockey] values we want to uphold, such as the excellence that Wayne Gretzky embodies, [and] these other values that are just as important, like independence, respect, friendliness and neighbourliness and collaboration," Walinga said.
"People might be feeling torn that he's not upholding those things — and in fact, he's actually supporting people who are actively trying to annex Canada."
That is playing out at the local level in Edmonton, she noted.
As of 5:15 p.m. MT Sunday, nearly 7,300 people have signed an online petition to change the name of Wayne Gretzky Drive, which runs from the Yellowhead Highway to 101st Avenue.
"We hold Wayne Gretzky, as a city, dear to our heart — arguably the greatest claim to fame for Edmonton," said Grant Prete, who launched the petition on Feb. 18.
"He's supporting someone who's threatening the sovereignty of our nation," he said, adding that the situation stings more because it's Gretzky.
Seth Janel, an Edmonton resident, feels renaming the road is too far because it would erase Gretzky's overall impact. He also acknowledged that Gretzky is allowed to have a personal political opinion.
Yet it still stings, given the current climate, he said.
"It hurts Canadian nationalism a little bit, because he's so connected to this country," Janel said.
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With files from Caleb Perreaux