'Forget about the past': Fans weigh in on criticism of Wayne Gretzky over Trump ties

Yahoo06-06-2025

EDMONTON — It wasn't long ago that some Canadians were up in arms about hockey legend Wayne Gretzky's ties to U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.
But as the Edmonton Oilers skate their way through the Stanley Cup final, hockey fans say it's time to let bygones be bygones.
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"I don't think it matters," said Craig Hiscock, a longtime Oilers fan, as he posed Wednesday for a photo with a statue of Gretzky outside Rogers Place in Edmonton ahead of Game 1.
"Let's forget about the past. What he did here was a lot for the city, a lot for hockey."
The statue was vandalized in March and smeared with what appeared to be and strongly smelled like feces. On Wednesday, a hip-high metal fence was up around the bronze figure.
An online petition started in February calling for a new name for Wayne Gretzky Drive also has about 14,000 signatures.
Gretzky, the Ontario-born hockey star who led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories in the 1980s, recently drew the ire of Canadians for his public support of Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire for Canada to join the U.S and become its 51st state.
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The Great One was photographed with Trump several times at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In January, Gretzky and his wife, Janet, attended Trump's inauguration in Washington.
Frustrations grew after he appeared as honorary captain for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off final with the United States. Video footage showed him giving the U.S. team a thumbs-up as he walked to the ice.
Gretzky also congratulated Dallas Stars players in their locker room last month, after they advanced to the Western Conference final.
The Oilers eliminated the Stars in five games and now have one win against the Florida Panthers in the Cup final. Game 2 is Friday night.
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Brian Foulken, who became a fan during the Gretzky era and collects Oilers merchandise, said Gretzky's accomplishments, including multiple scoring records that stand to this day, still resonate with people.
As for the criticism, Foulken said people are going to have their own opinions.
"At the end of the day, (Gretzky) played here for a long time. The diehard Oilers (fans), we love him,' he said outside the arena before Game 1.
"He's an amazing player."
Foulken added that current Oilers captain Connor McDavid is inching closer to Gretzky-level greatness.
Darren Rogers, a Gretzky fan since the Oilers' inception into the NHL in 1979, said Gretzky's leadership led the team to win multiple Stanley Cups.
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Politics aside, that accomplishment should matter more to people in the grand scheme of things, Rogers said.
Gretzky was in Edmonton for Wednesday's game.
And as storied as Gretzky is to the Oilers franchise, he appeared to still be catching up to this new generation's fan base. On an American sports network, he sat side by side with commentators, as they discussed the Oilers' new tradition of playing the pop song "Pink Pony Club."
Players have been tight-lipped about the significance of the Chappell Roan hit, typically heard after the team plays "La Bamba" by Los Lobos following a win.
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"Pink Pony — is that a band or is that a song?" the 64-year-old Gretzky asked TNT Sports co-host Paul Bissonnette following the Oilers' 4-3 overtime victory in Game 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 disappointed to learn Roan isn't Canadian, but still seemed eager to check out the song.
"I gotta get that (as) my ringtone," Gretzky said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press

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Canada and US Trade Talks Resume After Digital Tax Reversal

Newsweek

37 minutes ago

Newsweek

Canada and US Trade Talks Resume After Digital Tax Reversal

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Canada and the United States have resumed trade negotiations after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to rescind the country's digital services tax on U.S. technology companies. The development follows President Donald Trump's announcement on Friday that he was suspending all trade talks with Canada "effective immediately" over the tax policy. Why It Matters Trump's Friday announcement followed Canada's confirmation that it would proceed with its digital services tax on technology giants, most of which are U.S.-based, despite a previous G7 agreement where the Trump administration had agreed to drop a retaliatory tax proposal from congressional consideration. Canada's quick reversal signals the high stakes involved in maintaining trade relationships with the United States, particularly given the countries' deeply integrated economies. What To Know Carney's office confirmed on Sunday that both leaders have agreed to restart negotiations after Canada committed to abandoning the 3 percent levy targeting major U.S. tech giants including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber, and Airbnb. The tax was scheduled to take effect Monday and would have applied retroactively, creating an estimated $2 billion bill for American companies. The conflict escalated rapidly after Canada's Finance Department confirmed Friday that companies would still be required to make their first digital tax payments Monday, despite ongoing negotiations. The tax targeted revenue generated from Canadian users rather than corporate profits, making it particularly burdensome for technology companies operating internationally. Trump's response was immediate and severe. He announced the suspension of all trade discussions "effective immediately" and threatened to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods within seven days. The president criticized Canada as "a very difficult Country to TRADE with" and described the digital tax as "a direct and blatant attack on our Country." The dispute has unfolded against already strained U.S.-Canada relations. Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada and suggested it should become the 51st U.S. state. These tensions contributed to the political environment that led to Justin Trudeau's resignation and Mark Carney's subsequent election on an anti-Trump platform. Canada's decision to rescind the tax came "in anticipation" of reaching a broader trade agreement, according to government officials. What People Are Saying Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday: Canada will "continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians. It's a negotiation." President Donald Trump previously said in the Oval Office that he expected Canada to lift the digital services tax: "Economically we have such power over Canada. We'd rather not use it. It's not going to work out well for Canada. They were foolish to do it." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) greets U.S. President Donald Trump at the official welcome ceremony during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta. Canada is hosting this year's meeting... Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) greets U.S. President Donald Trump at the official welcome ceremony during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta. Canada is hosting this year's meeting of the world's seven largest economies. MoreWhat Happens Next With negotiations resuming, both countries will likely focus on addressing broader trade issues beyond the digital services tax. The Trump administration has indicated expectations for additional Canadian concessions, particularly regarding agricultural tariffs that have been a longstanding source of friction. Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.