Criticism of Wayne Gretzky Has Gone Too Far

Gretzky received even more criticism following the opening ceremony to the 4 Nations Face-Off final when he entered the ice surface from the American bench, gave a thumbs up to the American players before heading down the red carpet and seemingly not paying any attention to the Canadian bench on his way.

While Mike Eruzione donned a U.S.A. jersey as he was named the honorary captain for the Americans, more criticism rolled in for Gretzky who dressed formal in a suit, tie and vest as honorary captain of Team Canada.

What hasn’t been covered much are the reports that Gretzky also sent Team Canada players hats prior to the game that read ‘Be Great’ — a subtle reminder of his pride as it pertains to his home country.

But Trump doubled down on his friendship with Gretzky, which seems to have fuelled even more criticism and distaste for the star Canadian — who represented his country on the international stage on many occasions.

“Wayne Gretzky is a fantastic guy! They call him, “The Great One,” and he is,” wrote Trump in his latest post regarding the backlash towards Gretzky. “Wayne is my friend, and he wants to make me happy, and is therefore somewhat ‘low key’ about Canada remaining a separate country…He’s the greatest Canadian of them all, and I am therefore making him a ‘free agent,’ because I don’t want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him. He supports Canada the way it is, as he should.”

Until Thursday, the Gretzky family had been quite quiet regarding the onslaught of criticism. In fact, outside of Trump’s third-party narration of his interactions with Gretzky, there hadn’t been any reports of what The Great One had to say on the matter.

But on Thursday, that changed.

In a post on the social media platform Instagram, Janet Jones Gretzky posted a letter from another Hall of Fame player, Bobby Orr, who openly endorsed Trump during his re-election bid. The letter was aimed at what Orr referred to as the “haters” and came to the defence of Gretzky stating that everyone has their right to an opinion as well as their beliefs.

Gretzky’s Silence Is Speaking Volumes

With no comment to this point, as a Canadian, Gretzky is falling out of favour with the people. The right to beliefs and opinions aside, Trump has threatened the sovereignty of Canada and the people are angry. Now, go back to age old saying, “Guilty by association.” All of a sudden it makes sense as to why Gretzky’s in the spotlight north of the border.

Trump’s innate ability to hyperbolize almost everything has left a sour taste in many mouths. His defence of Gretzky and releasing him as a free agent in this Canada-U.S. political battle almost makes a mockery of the situation. And still, no one truly knows where Gretzky sits.

Trump has said that Gretzky is against Canada becoming the 51st state, but the people want to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Without that, their friendship remains the focal point.

While it’s disappointing to see an iconic Canadian not take a stance against a hypothetical intruder, to call into question his legacy as hockey player might be a step too far. After all, what he’s done for the game of hockey can, to some extent be separated from where he sits on the political spectrum. Can’t it?

Can we not separate politics and sport at any level? Maybe continuing to have him as the face of hockey, right now, isn’t the ideal marketing move. But from that perspective, you can’t take away the legacy he’s left behind him.

Where Does This Leave Gretzky’s Legacy?

For some, it’ll be a lingering distaste for a once-celebrated star of Canada’s game. For others, it may just be a blip in an otherwise lasting legacy as one of Canada’s best. As for those who seem unaffected by the friendship and views that Gretzky seems to carry, it’ll just be another headline they follow in the hockey world mixing in the political aspect that seems to be overshadowing one of the greatest careers in the history of the game.

While no one is apologizing for the rhetoric spread by the current President of the United States, the political views of Gretzky should be separated from the legacy he’s left on the game of hockey. At some point, we have to remember the small-town Canadian who grew up in Brantford on his way to making it big – on his way to making it as one of the best the NHL’s ever seen.

When the day comes that Gretzky’s all-time goal record is broken by Alexander Ovechkin, Gretzky’s name will still sit in the NHL record books for a number of other milestones that may never be touched. His representation of the game both on and off the ice has left a lasting impression. His move to the Los Angeles Kings brought hockey to the southern states for good and the game has grown exponentially because of it.

For Canadian kids, he’s paved a road for so many. He’s helped and given back to the game in his home country and, for that, we can’t ignore Wayne Gretzky, the hockey player. He will forever be a Canadian icon in the game of hockey and his legacy in that sense can’t be ripped apart.

However, while there will still be kids who want to emulate Gretzky in their game, what we do need to recognize is that his hockey legacy comes separate to what he does politically and on a personal basis. What we saw on the ice may not represent what we see away from the arena. It’s because of that, that we need to understand the line – the separation – between game and life. A legacy that lasts in hockey is built on the back of a player. An image outside of the game is built by a person’s beliefs and values.

While new Canadian hockey icons will emerge in the coming years, Gretzky’s name won’t be erased from hockey’s history. However, knowing where his allegiances are, his name may not leave the same lasting impression on Canadian hockey fans as it once did. With a legacy like he has, speaking out against tyranny can go a long way. If he truly does disagree with the overtaking of Canada, it’s time for Gretzky to create a new legacy – away from the game of hockey.