Mark Messier (left) and Wayne Gretzky (center) observe the men’s semi-final match featuring Canada and Finland. Gretzky was part of a CBC broadcast panel before the game.Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Over a year after Wayne Gretzky severely strained his ties with Canada, he chose to finally speak on the matter.
Gretzky has been touring Milan. It seems he’s embracing his Canadian identity once more; after all, how American can a non-native-born person truly be with figures like Tom Brady around?
Prior to the Canada versus Finland semi-final, Gretzky joined the CBC panel. During the usual hockey discussions, host James Duthie posed a crucial question to him.
Duthie referred to an “unsettling year for Canadians,” citing unprecedented tensions with the U.S. that have reached levels “never before witnessed in our lifetimes.”
“You’ve become entangled in this situation,” Duthie remarked.
“Indeed,” Gretzky responded, gripping his microphone with both hands as he grasped Duthie’s direction. “Ha ha ha.” He uttered it exactly like that—ha ha ha. He clearly wasn’t pleased.
Duthie then asked: “What message would you share with Canadians right now?”
“It’s quite simple,” Gretzky replied. “Initially, let’s focus on the game. That holds the most significance.”
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One must admit, Gretzky has always been an expert at deflecting the puck. His belief that this controversy revolves around hockey implies either a lack of understanding or an acknowledgment that his past actions are beyond explanation.
He appeared to imply that the public’s issue with him was solely athletic, stating, “My desire is for Canada to secure a gold medal. My stance on that has never changed.”
He concluded with generic remarks about familial disagreements.
“Canada and the USA resemble siblings,” he articulated. “They will bicker and dispute, but ultimately, they reconcile, won’t they? That’s my perspective.”
Relay that sentiment to a Canadian experiencing job loss in manufacturing. They’d be deeply encouraged to know this is the nature of family dynamics: signing agreements, followed by a father accusing you of drug dealing, claiming China will steal hockey, and then deciding to evict you.
Gretzky’s response palpably conveyed his indignation—primarily at having his allegiance questioned, especially after he had so intentionally cast doubt upon it himself. Such is the consequence of representing an entity hostile to your nation.
If any defense can be made for Gretzky, it’s that he never sought to be an emblem of our nation; that role was thrust upon him.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t obliged to accept it. Had he grown weary, he could have resigned, relocated to Arizona, and avoided making a spectacle of returning home.
He wasn’t compelled to return to Canada to earn some money once NHL teams and American advertisers showed diminished interest. Nor did he need to inundate our broadcasts with his poor gambling advertisements, which are notably absent from ESPN.
After decades spent profiting from his image as a Canadian icon, he can no longer invoke the familiar ‘I’m merely a hockey player’ defense.
Precisely that is what he did on Friday evening: “Look, I am a hockey player. I am Canadian. I am genuinely Canadian.”
Duthie was clearly not going to engage in a political argument during a pregame broadcast for which CBC had invested significantly. That falls outside his responsibilities.
Yet, the next natural inquiry is, what defines a “true” Canadian for Gretzky? Is it merely being born in this country? Does his Canada Cup victory grant him concessions unavailable to others? And if one hasn’t resided here full-time for numerous years, how authentically “true” can that identity be?
These are complex philosophical questions Gretzky appears either reluctant or incapable of addressing. Given this, why does he persistently impose himself on Canada whenever there’s a chance for a bit of reflected prestige?
One gathered from his demeanor—and the panel’s immediate return to hockey after a single challenging question—that Gretzky presumes this issue is now resolved. A true Canadian, he stated. He declared it.
Now he can revert to being Canadian for television appearances, and a Floridian for social, fiscal, and political matters. Perhaps if his associate in Palm Beach strikes a deal with Russia, he could embark on a speaking tour in Moscow, recounting past events. Good evening, comrades. As a genuine Canadian, allow me to tell you about Viktor Tikhonov…
Gretzky’s evasiveness on Friday reiterates his lack of comprehension. He seems oblivious that Canada isn’t seeking excuses or justifications, but rather an explanation followed by an apology. No one demands subservience; merely an admission of fault, and then await acceptance.
Should Gretzky genuinely wish to move beyond this, he must engage with someone more incisive than a sports journalist, and not in the immediate lead-up to a significant hockey match.
He can explain to the Canadians he claims such a connection with why he opts not to reside among them, yet desires the ability to represent them whenever he craves attention. I suspect his Republican associates aren’t current on recent Canadian goalie debates. That might also play a role.
It’s not beyond remedy for Wayne Gretzky, purportedly a true Canadian, to genuinely embody that identity once more. However, a single rehearsed statement about winning a gold medal will not suffice.