Wayne Gretzky’s Donald Trump ties and hockey symbolism left Canadians feeling betrayed by their Great One

For decades, Wayne Gretzky was more than just Canada’s greatest hockey player—he was a national icon. A symbol of humility, grace, and sportsmanship, Gretzky once embodied everything Canadians admired in a public figure.

But in recent months, the "Great One" has been caught in a storm of political controversy that many feel has tarnished his legacy.

Wayne Gretzky’s political associations have cast a long shadow over his once untouchable Canadian legacy

While Wayne Gretzky has always maintained dual citizenship with the United States, his visible alignment with Donald Trump has stirred deep resentment among Canadians. His attendance at Trump’s second inauguration, his MAGA-aligned media appearances, and his increasingly America-first image have fractured his once-unifying status.

What began as discomfort for some escalated into outrage after Gretzky served as the honorary captain for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey final in Boston—yet appeared more like a guest of Team USA.Dressed in a navy suit with no visible Canadian symbolism, Gretzky walked onto the ice from the U.S. bench, gave a thumbs-up to American players, and noticeably avoided acknowledging Team Canada. The red “Be Great” hats he handed the Canadian players after their win—eerily reminiscent of MAGA caps—only fueled suspicions of political signaling.

That night, Gretzky was booed in Canadian bars and slammed across social media.Calls to remove his statue from Edmonton’s Rogers Place intensified after it was smeared with feces. A petition to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive surpassed 13,000 signatures. Meanwhile, Canadians recalled that Gretzky had never even collected his Order of Canada honor in person.

Rather than defend his actions, Gretzky remained silent. Trump offered a lukewarm defense on Truth Social, and Gretzky’s wife Janet posted—then deleted—an Instagram statement: “It has broken his heart to read and see the mean comments.”Critics argue Gretzky should have anticipated the backlash. As Globe and Mail columnist Cathal Kelly noted, “He’s a 64-year-old man of the world of now… the polar opposite of what Canada wants in a representative.”Also Read: No longer Canadian: Wayne Gretzky’s Canadian identity questioned after Donald Trump friendship sparks controversyWayne Gretzky, once the pride of a nation, now finds himself facing the cold reality of a divided fanbase—and a legacy no longer taken for granted.