Wayne Gretzky found himself at the center of some unwanted controversy after the Gold Medal Game between Canada and the USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
According to claims made by former NHL defenseman Mike Commodore on the \u201cBarn Burner\u201d podcast<\/a>, Gretzky was supposedly informed by Hockey Canada president Katherine Henderson that he wasn\u2019t welcome in the team\u2019s locker room before the game. However, The Great One has quickly come out to quash that rumor and give the actual story to Sportsnet\u2019s Elliotte Friedman<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a story this week about whether or not he was blocked by Hockey Canada to go in and read the lineup before the Gold Medal Game,\u201d Friedman said during his weekly Saturday Headlines segment<\/a>. \u201cHe reached out, and I think he just wanted to put this to bed. I don\u2019t think he wants the story to continue. He said that he and his family were treated very well by Hockey Canada this week.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what he did say was that there was some kind of misunderstanding before the Gold Medal Game. He went down to ice level, and an IOC security person didn\u2019t recognize Wayne Gretzky and told him he couldn\u2019t be there, so he just left. I think, obviously, it\u2019s a sensitive time. I don\u2019t think he wanted Hockey Canada to be taking any heat that they didn\u2019t deserve to take.\u201d<\/p>\n Even before Gretzky\u2019s statement to Friedman, Hockey Canada immediately came out against the story, denying the accusation in a tweet reply to former NHL defenseman Ryan Whitney.<\/p>\n While hockey\u2019s greatest ever player not being recognized by IOC security at a literal hockey event is likely troubling to hear for the sport in general, it\u2019s not the hot-button topic it would be if Hockey Canada were the ones behind Gretzky\u2019s dismissal.<\/p>\n The situation comes as Gretzky continues to face criticism from Canadians for his friendly relationship with US President Donald Trump<\/a>. The NHL\u2019s all-time leading scorer was present at Trump\u2019s presidential victory party and later his inauguration.<\/p>\n Trump consistently throws jabs at Gretzky\u2019s home nation and threatens their sovereignty by trying to claim them as the 51st state<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, [annexing Canada is a real thing],\u201d Trump said last year<\/a>. \u201cI think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I\u2019m not going to let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n In response to the consternation among his countrymen, Gretzky has said he understands the criticism but remains committed to Canada.<\/p>\n