Former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington makes his way to the 1984 Stanley Cup Reunion media availability in Edmonton on Oct. 8, 2014.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Peter Pocklington, the former Edmonton Oilers owner who infamously traded Wayne Gretzky to the L.A. Kings in 1988, is the latest person to defend the hockey superstar after many across Canada have called Gretzky’s patriotism into question.
Gretzky and his wife, Janet Jones, have been guests at U.S. President Donald Trump’s Florida Palm Beach home Mar-A-Lago and attended the President’s victory party on Nov. 4, during which Gretzky sported a Make America Great Again ballcap. They also attended the President’s inauguration. Gretzky has yet to comment on the mounting criticism, which hit a fever pitch last month when he was named Canada’s honorary captain before the final game at the 4 Nations Face-Off against the United States.
Gretzky appeared on the ice in a blue suit without a Team Canada jersey on and gave a thumbs up to the American side, while American honorary captain Mike Eruzione wore his country’s jersey. Some felt it was an insufficient show of patriotism for the Canadian side.
Honorary captains Mike Eruzione of Team United States and Wayne Gretzky of Team Canada shake hands during pre-game ceremonies before the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game on Feb. 20, at TD Garden in Boston.Brian Babineau/4NFO/Getty Images
“I’m shocked that Canadians would disparage this kid,” Pocklington, 83, said Tuesday from his home in Palm Desert, Calif. Gretzky is 64.
They have been linked since Pocklington bought his contract from the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association and remain friends despite Pocklington having traded him almost 37 years ago.
“I have very fond memories of Wayne. This is crazy,” Pocklington said. “He is one of the nicest young men I ever met. He has a heart of gold.”
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Pocklington recalled his failed run for the leadership of Canada’s Progressive Conservative Party in 1983. Gretzky tried to drum up support for him. Mostly Gretzky made appearances and turned on the charm that made him so beloved in Canada.
“He is not political at all,” Pocklington said. “He wouldn’t know a libertarian from a conservative. He just is.”
Gretzky, whose career record of 894 goals could soon be surpassed by Alexander Ovechkin — the Russian star is nine goals away from setting the record — has been given a rough ride by Canadians due to his support of Trump.
Trump has been supportive of Gretzky in return. On Dec. 26, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he encouraged Gretzky to run for Prime Minister of Canada, while making comments about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. On Feb. 27, with criticism of Gretzky hitting a peak after his 4 Nations final appearance, Trump again posted on Truth Social and declared Gretzky “a free agent” as a means to ease the backlash Gretzky was facing.
“He supports Canada the way it is, as he should, even though it’s not nearly as good as it could be as part of the Greatest and Most Powerful Country in the World, the Good Ole’ U.S.A.!” Trump posted. Bobby Orr, another hockey legend, has written in Gretzky’s defence and Jones posted on her Instagram account that “it has broken (Gretzky’s) heart” to read the criticism he has faced recently.
“I thought, ‘My God, what is wrong with Canadians?’ He is a hockey player and in his time there was nobody that could come close to him. He turned out to be twice big as I ever thought he would,” Pocklington said.
Pocklington, who was born in Regina, Sask., has lived in California since 1998, the year he sold the Oilers. He has had his own troubles over the years.
From 2017: Defiant Peter Pocklington tries for one last score
A California judge sentenced him to six months in prison followed by a further six months’ house arrest in 2013 for breaching his probation on a previous perjury conviction related to a bankruptcy fraud case.
Two years later a U.S. appeal court reversed the lower-court ruling that had sentenced him for six months and revoked his probation.
A maverick to some, to others his dealings on and off the ice are unforgiveable. It took nearly 30 years for fans to forgive him for trading Gretzky. In 2014, he received a standing ovation at Rexall Place during a reunion celebration of the Oilers' first Stanley Cup team.
Pocklington said he hopes Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s record but noted that the Washington Capitals star has played longer in the NHL than Gretzky.
Pocklington is also a Trump supporter and has played golf with him over the years.
“He has literally saved this country,” Pocklington said of Trump.