It wasn’t way back that some Canadians had been up in arms about hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
However because the Edmonton Oilers skate their approach by the Stanley Cup closing, hockey followers say it’s time to let bygones be bygones.
“I don’t think it matters,” stated Craig Hiscock, a longtime Oilers fan, as he posed Wednesday for a photograph with a statue of Gretzky outdoors Rogers Place in Edmonton forward of Recreation 1.
“Let’s forget about the past. What he did here was a lot for the city, a lot for hockey.”
The Gretzky statue was vandalized in March and smeared with what gave the impression to be and strongly smelled like feces. On Wednesday, a hip-high metallic fence was up across the bronze determine.
An internet petition began in February calling for a brand new identify for Wayne Gretzky Drive additionally has about 14,000 signatures.
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Gretzky, the Ontario-born hockey star who led the Oilers to 4 Stanley Cup victories within the Nineteen Eighties, just lately drew the ire of Canadians for his public help of Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his need for Canada to hitch the usand turn into its 51st state.
The Nice One was photographed with Trump a number of instances on the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In January, Gretzky and his spouse, Janet, attended Trump’s inauguration in Washington.
Frustrations grew after he appeared as honorary captain for Canada on the 4 Nations Face-Off closing with the USA. Video footage confirmed him giving the U.S. workforce a thumbs-up as he walked to the ice.
Gretzky additionally congratulated Dallas Stars gamers of their locker room final month, after they superior to the Western Convention closing.
The Oilers eradicated the Stars in 5 video games and now have one win in opposition to the Florida Panthers within the Cup closing. Recreation 2 is Friday night time.
‘We love him’
Brian Foulken, who grew to become a fan in the course of the Gretzky period and collects Oilers merchandise, stated Gretzky’s accomplishments, together with a number of scoring data that stand to today, nonetheless resonate with folks.
As for the criticism, Foulken stated persons are going to have their very own opinions.
“At the end of the day, [Gretzky] played here for a long time. The diehard Oilers [fans], we love him,” he stated outdoors the world earlier than Recreation 1.
“He’s an amazing player.”
The Wayne Gretzky statue outdoors of Rogers Place in Edmonton was vandalized in March. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)
Foulken added that present Oilers captain Connor McDavid is inching nearer to Gretzky-level greatness.
Darren Rogers, a Gretzky fan for the reason that Oilers’ inception into the NHL in 1979, stated Gretzky’s management led the workforce to win a number of Stanley Cups.
Politics apart, that accomplishment ought to matter extra to folks within the grand scheme of issues, Rogers stated.
Gretzky was in Edmonton for Wednesday’s sport.
Pink pony bandwagon
And as storied as Gretzky is to the Oilers franchise, he appeared to nonetheless be catching as much as this new era’s fan base. On an American sports activities community, he sat facet by facet with commentators, as they mentioned the Oilers’ new custom of enjoying the pop music Pink Pony Membership.
Gamers have been tight-lipped in regards to the significance of the Chappell Roan hit, sometimes heard after the workforce performs La Bamba by Los Lobos following a win.
“Pink Pony — is that a band or is that a song?” the 64-year-old Gretzky requested TNT Sports activities co-host Paul Bissonnette following the Oilers’ 4-3 time beyond regulation victory in Recreation 1.
“[Roan] sings a song, ‘Pink Pony Club,’ and it’s famous. It’s on the radio,” Bissonnette answered.
“It’s the new generation, Wayne,” he added.
Gretzky appeared disenchanted to be taught Roan isn’t Canadian, however nonetheless appeared keen to take a look at the music.
“I gotta get that [as] my ringtone,” Gretzky stated.
