Ontario Premier Doug Ford is the latest prominent figure to defend Wayne Gretzky.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Toronto after the United States introduced 25-per-cent tariffs on Canada, Ford went to bat for Gretzky. He said he spoke recently to the former NHL superstar who has been criticized for his friendship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“One other thing I want to mention is my friend Wayne Gretzky,” said Ford, who won his third consecutive Ontario election last week. “He’s the most patriotic Canadian there is anywhere on the planet. As other Canadian athletes go down to the U.S., they hand in their Canadian passport and get an American passport to pay lower taxes.
“I talked to Wayne the other day, he was so choked up talking to me. He’s a patriot, he loves Canada, he never gave up his Canadian passport. So you know folks, give the guy a break. Just give him a break. He loves Canada. He loves it like no tomorrow.”
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi also voiced his praise for Gretzky on Sunday, saying he makes him “so proud to be Canadian.” Domi revealed he talked to Gretzky, who was with his dad Tie Domi, on the phone the previous night before ending a lengthy goal drought the next day.
Bobby Orr wrote an opinion column last month in the Toronto Sun saying Gretzky did not deserve criticism.
Along with the tariffs on Canada, Trump has talked openly about making the country the 51st state.
Last month, Trump called Wayne Gretzky “the greatest Canadian” and highlighted his loyalty to Canada in a Truth Social post.
Trump also stated that he doesn’t want Canadians to turn against Gretzky simply because of their friendship and declared him a “free agent.”
Gretzky has not commented on the matter.
As tension has grown between the countries, the American and Canadian national anthems have been booed at various sporting events.
Ford urged fans to refrain from jeering either anthem.
“Please do not boo the national anthem in Canada or the U.S.,” he said. “These are soldiers that fought for our freedoms, our democracies, our sovereignty. They’ve laid their lives on the line. … Boo the referee, boo the players if you want. Do not boo the American national anthem. And to my American friends, do not boo the Canadian national anthem. That’s crossing the line.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, said he did not expect the booing of the American anthem to stop.
“We’re probably going to keep booing the American anthem,” he said at a press conference in Ottawa. “But let me tell Americans, we’re not booing you. We’re not booing your teams. We’re not booing your players. We’re booing a policy that is designed to hurt us. And we’re insulted. And we’re angry. But we’re Canadian. Which means we’re going to stand up for each other. We’re going to fight. And we’re going to win.”
