 "Who is Wayne Gretzky, whom Donald Trump has touted as next Canadian PM?")
Donald Trump wants Wayne Gretzky to run for Prime Minister of Canada.
Trump in a Christmas Day message caused an uproar on social media when he touted the former hockey star as the next prime minister of the neighbouring nation.
“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’”
Trump claimed Gretzky had no interest in running.
However, he urged the people of Canada to begin a “draft Wayne Gretzky movement.”
“It would be so much fun to watch!” Trump wrote.
But who is Gretzky, also known as ‘the Great one?’ What do we know about him?
Let’s take a closer look:
Who is he?
Gretzky, 63, is a Canadian icon.
He is widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time.
Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario.
As per Sportskeeda, his parents are Walter Grеtzky and Phyllis Hockin.
Waltеr was a key figure in his son’s career – much like Tiger Woods’ father Earl Woods – and widely known as ‘Canada’s hockey dad.’
As per Sportshall.CA, Gretzky began his career at age 15 in the Ontario Hockey League.
By age 16, was playing in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Edmonton Oilers.
The next year he made his debut in the National Hockey League after its merger with the WHA.
In 1984, Gretzky led the Edmonton Oilers to their first Stanley Cup.
It was a feat he would go on to repeat another three times.
Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings at the end of the 1987-1988 season.
He next played for the St Louis Blues at the end of the ‘96-‘97 season and ended his career with the New York Rangers.
Gretzky retired in 1999 at age 38.
“I never wavered, I never budged — I know in my heart I’m making the right decision,” Gretzky said at the time as per CBC.CA.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame that very year.
His spectacular career would see him amass several NHL records including the most goals scored (894), most assists (1963), and total points (2857).
As per Sportskeeda, Gretzky won the NHL’s Most Valuable Player trophy nine times and won the top scorer trophy 10 times.
Gretzky remains the only player to have scored more than 200 points in a season – which he did on four occasions.
In 2000, he was inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame the following year.
The NHL in 2000 also retired Gretzky’s famed number 99 jersey – in a move that was inspired from the Major League Baseball’s decision to retire Jackie Robinson’s number 42.
Gretzky also played for Canada’s Olympics team in 1991, 1996 and 1998.
In 2002, he was the general manager to the Olympic team that took home the gold for the first time in 50 years.
Gretzky after his hockey career has been an ambassador for the sport and an entrepreneur.
Gretzky in 2016 had returned to the Oilers as vice chairman – essentially a front-office role.
His duties included working with the Oilers Entertainment Group on the commercial side of the business, as well as supporting development initiatives in the district where the Rogers Place arena is located.
However, he left the job in 2021 citing “the pandemic and other life changes.”
At the time, he said he would be unable to “dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organisation.”
The development came as the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets.
As per The Independent, Gretzky and his family were recently seen at an election night party for Trump.
Gretzky, who was seen wearing a white Make America Great Again hat, was accompanied by his wife Janet, his daughter Paulina, and son-in-law Dustin Johnson.
As per National Post, Gretzky has previously favoured Tory politicians like ex-Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown.
He also backed Conservative party leader Stephen Harper during the 2015 election which Harper ultimately lost.
Gretzky at the time told Harper he had been an “unreal prime minister” who had been “wonderful to the whole country.”
Gretzky later claimed he always follows a prime minister’s request regardless of which party is in power. He said he once hosted a lunch for ex-Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
Experts say Gretzky could be a tough competitor if he decides to run.
“He’s not just a hockey legend; he’s a cultural icon who brought Canadians together,” David O’Brien, a Canadian sports historian was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “If he ever decided to run for office, he’d likely have widespread appeal.”
A source close to Gretzky said, “Wayne is deeply honoured by the respect, but he’s a hockey guy, not a politician.”"
Trudeau in trouble
The development comes amid much speculation over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political future.
Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, has become widely unpopular in recent years over a wide range of issues, including the high cost of living and rising inflation.
Trudeau’s deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland stepped down from the cabinet last week and a growing number of Liberal Party MPs want him to step aside.
“The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau,” Trump wrote.
Trump had previously suggested Canada should become the USA’s 51st state.
“Her behaviour was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!”
Trump , meanwhile, has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the US from Canada than from Mexico.
With inputs from agencies
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