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EDMONTON — Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky might be in the penalty box in the minds of many Canadians right now, but one Alberta-based superfan says his admiration for the Great One remains intact.
“Wayne is still Wayne,” said Shawn Chaulk in an interview Friday. “He’s an icon (and) people should continue to see him as such. Who cares what his political beliefs are?
“Focus on all the good he’s done for the game.”
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Chaulk lives in Fort McMurray and owns a massive collection of Gretzky game-used sticks and jerseys, rookie cards and photographs. He even sports a tattoo of the NHL’s all-time points, assists and goals leader.
Gretzky has drawn the ire of hockey fans and non-hockey fans alike for his public support of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has dismissed Canada as a thankless, self-interested dependency that deserves to be its 51st state.
Trump is also threatening to punish Canada with steep tariffs starting next week, saying Canada enjoys an unfair trade advantage and is not doing enough to stop cross-border drug traffic.
In Edmonton, the site of Gretzky’s hockey glory days, one resident has started a petition to rename the Wayne Gretzky Drive freeway. As of Friday, the petition has garnered more than 11,000 signatures.
In Calgary, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith answered questions from reporters on the controversy.
She acknowledged Gretzky might be hitting a post or two in his post-hockey years, especially by not wearing a Team Canada jersey when he recently served as honorary captain for Canada at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off.
But that shouldn’t diminish his on-ice legacy, especially in Edmonton, the premier said.
“I love the Great One, and I think it’s unfortunate.
“The social media sphere can get a little bit mean, but I don’t think it detracts from his legacy at all.”
Gretzky’s ties to Alberta and Edmonton are deep. In the 1980s, he led the Edmonton Oilers to four of their five Stanley Cups before being sent to the Los Angeles Kings in a trade that shocked the hockey world.
He and his wife, Janet, were married in Edmonton, and there is a life-size statue of Gretzky hoisting the Cup outside the Oilers’ downtown arena.
Gretzky attended an election victory party for Trump in November and was seen sporting a Make America Great Again hat. He and his wife also attended Trump’s inauguration in January.
Trump, as well as fellow hockey legend Bobby Orr, has vouched for Gretzky’s Canadian-ness, with both calling him one of the greatest Canadians in history. Janet Gretzky has posted on social media that the rebukes have “broken his heart.”
Wayne Gretzky retired a generation ago, in 1999, but his image lives on in the sports card and memorabilia business.
Jack Jensen, owner of a long-running memorabilia and collectibles store called West Edmonton Coin and Stamp, said the controversy has not affected sales one way or the other.
“The demand hasn’t changed a lot,” he said.
Jensen said Gretzky memorabilia hasn’t flown off the shelves for many years, as the new generation of hockey fans focuses on scoring stuff from today’s superstars, like Connor McDavid or Connor Bedard.
“Gretzky stuff is not that salable,” Jensen said. “It’s collectible, but not that salable at this point.”
At his shop, near-mint condition Gretzky cards from the early 1980s are priced at $450. A signed plaque and picture marking the time Gretzky, as a Los Angeles King, broke Gordie Howe’s record for all-time point leader is marked at $600.
Jensen said prices, especially for the more collectible items like game-worn equipment, likely won’t ever dip in value, regardless of Gretzky’s off-ice performances.
“People are frustrated right now and think he’s a traitor,” Jensen said.
“But I think he’ll have longevity once people get past this speed bump that they’re frustrated with him.”
— by Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
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