Wayne Gretzky's Role as Honorary Captain for Team Canada Sparks Controversy
Wayne Gretzky, often hailed as the finest hockey player in history, was designated as the honorary captain for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final against the U.S. His unveiling on Thursday night was met with a mixed reception, as he joined Team USA's selection, Mike Eruzione, on the rink. The Boston audience was decidedly more supportive of Eruzione compared to Gretzky, known as "The Great One."
Gretzky's role as Team Canada's honorary captain ignited controversy on social media due to remarks made by President Donald Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state of the U.S. The President even suggested that Gretzky could serve as the "governor" of Canada, a comment that failed to amuse hockey enthusiasts.
Gretzky, who attended Trump’s inauguration, was also commended by Trump on Christmas Day, who proposed that the Canadian people elect him as their next prime minister. Trump further teased Canadian policymakers by saying he'd asked Gretzky about potentially becoming the "governor of Canada."
During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, Trump expressed his admiration for Gretzky, saying, "Wayne was not too interested [in becoming governor]. But he probably would have liked statehood. He's a friend of mine. He's a great guy. He's the great one. We call him the great one, right? He's a great hockey player." However, Gretzky didn't seem to be influenced by Trump's statements.
The Hockey Hall of Fame inductee was also seen at Trump’s election celebration in November.