Back in early 2025, Canada found itself in an identity crisis — and at the center of it was none other than Wayne Gretzky . Long celebrated as the embodiment of Canadian humility and excellence, Gretzky became an unlikely flashpoint in a political and cultural storm that tested national sentiment like never before.
Canada's hockey icon meets a political reckoning
The incident unfolded in the shadow of tense U.S.-Canada relations, with new American tariffs, political jabs from President Donald Trump, and a rising wave of Canadian nationalism . For years, Gretzky had lived quietly in the U.S., his image largely untarnished despite the distance. But a string of high-profile appearances alongside Trump — including his attendance at an election-night celebration and the 2025 inauguration — changed that.
A photo of Gretzky wearing a white-and-gold MAGA hat went viral, and suddenly, the question wasn't about goals or assists — it was about loyalty.
This was no minor controversy. “You were a great Canadian, but now you are not,” Edmonton Sports Talk’s Matthew Iwanyk famously said at the time — a quote that captured the frustration of many Canadians. In Edmonton, where Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups, fans were openly questioning the man immortalized in bronze outside Rogers Place. Some, like Oilers fan Rob Munro, simply wished he’d “be a little more Canadian.”
Gretzky’s neutral stance during the NHL ’s “4 Nations Face-Off” didn’t help. While his American counterpart wore a jersey, Gretzky appeared in a suit, giving a thumbs-up to the U.S. bench. It was the kind of symbolism that stuck — and stung.
The disappointment wasn’t about party lines; it was about a sense of national pride. “It’s not that we expect more of him,” said Edmonton resident Grant Prete, who started a petition to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive. “It’s that it stings more.”
Some, like Ontario Premier Doug Ford, came to his defense. “He is a patriot. He loves Canada,” Ford insisted. But in the eyes of many, Gretzky’s silence amid the controversy was deafening.
Also Read: “Pretend you don’t know me”: Wayne Gretzky caught in crossfire as Donald Trump friendship sparks Canadian backlash
Looking back, 2025 was the year Canadians asked themselves a hard question: What do we do when our greatest hero no longer reflects the values we hold dear?
Canada's hockey icon meets a political reckoning
The incident unfolded in the shadow of tense U.S.-Canada relations, with new American tariffs, political jabs from President Donald Trump, and a rising wave of Canadian nationalism . For years, Gretzky had lived quietly in the U.S., his image largely untarnished despite the distance. But a string of high-profile appearances alongside Trump — including his attendance at an election-night celebration and the 2025 inauguration — changed that.
A photo of Gretzky wearing a white-and-gold MAGA hat went viral, and suddenly, the question wasn't about goals or assists — it was about loyalty.
“The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, along with his family, was among those to attend Donald Trump’s victory party. pic.twitter.com/hxBNWmrAUa
— YEGWAVE (@yegwave) November 8, 2024
This was no minor controversy. “You were a great Canadian, but now you are not,” Edmonton Sports Talk’s Matthew Iwanyk famously said at the time — a quote that captured the frustration of many Canadians. In Edmonton, where Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups, fans were openly questioning the man immortalized in bronze outside Rogers Place. Some, like Oilers fan Rob Munro, simply wished he’d “be a little more Canadian.”
Gretzky’s neutral stance during the NHL ’s “4 Nations Face-Off” didn’t help. While his American counterpart wore a jersey, Gretzky appeared in a suit, giving a thumbs-up to the U.S. bench. It was the kind of symbolism that stuck — and stung.
The disappointment wasn’t about party lines; it was about a sense of national pride. “It’s not that we expect more of him,” said Edmonton resident Grant Prete, who started a petition to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive. “It’s that it stings more.”
Some, like Ontario Premier Doug Ford, came to his defense. “He is a patriot. He loves Canada,” Ford insisted. But in the eyes of many, Gretzky’s silence amid the controversy was deafening.
Also Read: “Pretend you don’t know me”: Wayne Gretzky caught in crossfire as Donald Trump friendship sparks Canadian backlash
Looking back, 2025 was the year Canadians asked themselves a hard question: What do we do when our greatest hero no longer reflects the values we hold dear?
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