The mounting criticism over Wayne Gretzky and his ties to President Donald Trump amid political tension between the U.S. and Gretzky’s native Canada has “broken” The Great One’s heart.
Responding to a Toronto Sun op-ed written in defense of Gretzky, 64, by famed Canadian defenseman Bobby Orr, Janet Jones Gretzky championed her husband’s pride for Canada while detailing how much the condemnation has affected him.
“I have never met anyone who is more Proud to be a Canadian and it has broken his heart to read and see the mean comments,” Janet wrote Thursday in a since-deleted post on Instagram, according to USA Today. “He would do anything to make Canadians Proud, with his Love for Hockey and his Country.”
Gretzky — who attended Trump’s second inauguration in January with Janet, his wife of 36 years — was dubbed a “traitor” by Team Canada supporters last week during the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston, where he served as his homeland’s honorary captain in the 3-2 overtime win against the U.S.
Some fans took exception to Gretzky giving a thumbs up to the Americans as he entered TD Garden, as well as his attire, a navy suit instead of a red Canada sweater.
Trump, who has spoken about imposing tariffs on Canada and repeatedly floated the idea of adding the nation as the 51st state, said Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform that Gretzky is “somewhat ‘low key’” about Canada remaining a separate unit.
“Wayne Gretzky is a fantastic guy! They call him, ‘The Great One,’ and he is. He could run for any political office in Canada, and win. Wayne is my friend, and he wants to make me happy, and is therefore somewhat ‘low key’ about Canada remaining a separate Country, rather than becoming a cherished and beautiful 51st State, paying much Lower Taxes, a Free and Powerful Military, NO TARIFFS, and having a Booming Economy,” Trump wrote.
Trump added he doesn’t “want anyone in Canada to say a bad thing” about Gretzky.
“Wayne and Janet, his wonderful wife, love Canada, and they should only support Canada, and whatever else makes the Canadian People, and Governor Justin Trudeau, happy. 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,” the message read.
The 76-year-old Orr, who played for the Bruins and Blackhawks, chastised “haters” for going after Gretzky in his op-ed.
“For the life of me, I cannot understand why the ‘haters’ have decided to go after Wayne because he ‘didn’t wear a Canadian jersey’ during his introduction at the final match. I, for one, thought that he looked very dignified while representing Canada with class and professionalism,” Orr wrote in the Toronto Sun.
“Remember, this is a man who wore the Maple Leaf on multiple occasions with pride. As both a player and administrator, he has brought nothing but glory to his homeland year after year, decade after decade.”
Gretzky, a four-time Stanley Cup winner, began his prolific NHL career with the Oilers and played for the Kings, Blues and Rangers. He concluded his professional run on Broadway following the 1998-99 season.
Gretzky and Janet have five children together, including daughter Paulina Gretzky, wife of two-time major golf champion Dustin Johnson.
