The Canadian hockey legend known as 香蕉视频直播淭he Great One香蕉视频直播� is facing heightened criticism over his political affiliations as tensions between Canada and the U.S. continue to fester.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to make Canada the 香蕉视频直播�51st state香蕉视频直播� of the U.S., prompting mass criticism from politicians and residents north of the border.

Those critiques appeared to grow louder after Canada香蕉视频直播檚 overtime win Thursday at the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston. Gretzky was Team Canada香蕉视频直播檚 honorary captain.

Terry Jones, a sports writer who covered the Edmonton Oilers for 55 years, said Trump香蕉视频直播檚 stated ambitions to annex Canada have made calls for clarity around Gretzky香蕉视频直播檚 views more urgent.

香蕉视频直播淚 consider him a great Canadian,香蕉视频直播� said Jones, who has written several books about Gretzky. Jones is a also Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

香蕉视频直播淏ut obviously the relationship with Trump has become a focus, and I can香蕉视频直播檛 believe in my heart and soul that Wayne Gretzky believes Canada should be the 51st state.香蕉视频直播�

Gretzky香蕉视频直播檚 connection to Trump has come into the public eye over the past year.

Gretzky and his wife attended Trump香蕉视频直播檚 inauguration in January, and he has been photographed with Trump several times at the president香蕉视频直播檚 Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Gretzky was also photographed at Trump香蕉视频直播檚 election victory party wearing a Make America Great Again hat.

Prior to his inauguration, Trump called Gretzky a great friend.

香蕉视频直播淚 said, 香蕉视频直播楻un for prime minister, you香蕉视频直播檒l win,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Trump said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut (Gretzky) said, 香蕉视频直播楢m I going to run for prime minister or governor, you tell me.香蕉视频直播� I said, 香蕉视频直播業 don香蕉视频直播檛 know, let香蕉视频直播檚 make it governor.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Gretzky has not publicly discussed his political affiliations, leading to questions about his level of support for Trump香蕉视频直播檚 agenda, as the president香蕉视频直播檚 tariff threats and 香蕉视频直播�51st state香蕉视频直播� rhetoric ramp up.

Gretzky香蕉视频直播檚 perceived reluctance to state his beliefs has affected his reputation among some Canadians, Jones said.

He adds that he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 object to the 64-year-old Gretzky attending Trump香蕉视频直播檚 inauguration.

香蕉视频直播淚f I香蕉视频直播檓 right that (Gretzky) doesn香蕉视频直播檛 think Canada should become the 51st state, he should step up and say it,香蕉视频直播� Jones said.

香蕉视频直播淚 certainly haven香蕉视频直播檛 turned on Wayne Gretzky or changed any degree of my absolute admiration for the guy.香蕉视频直播�

Frustrations that Gretzky has not sufficiently supported Canada were voiced by fans online after he appeared as honorary captain in a suit and tie at the hockey final. American honorary captain Mike Eruzione wore the U.S. jersey.

Video footage showed Gretzky giving the U.S. team a thumbs-up as he walked to the ice from their bench. He handed the Canadian players hats that said Be Great after the win.

M2NS, a talent agency representing Gretzky, didn香蕉视频直播檛 respond to a request for comment.

In 2009, Gretzky was named a Companion of the Order of Canada but has been criticized for not travelling to Ottawa for it.

The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General said in a statement that Gretzky was honoured with the award, and it 香蕉视频直播渞egularly communicates with recipients to determine their availability to participate in an investiture ceremony to receive their insignia.香蕉视频直播�

In Edmonton, where Gretzky made his name as a living legend, some fans are petitioning for a freeway in his name to be changed. Capilano Drive was renamed Wayne Gretzky Drive in 1999 as a tribute to his years with the Oilers, where he won four Stanley Cups.

Petition organizer Grant Prete said his opinion of Gretzky has deteriorated since a photo in November of Gretzky wearing a MAGA hat.

香蕉视频直播淚f he香蕉视频直播檚 going to flip now and make a statement saying otherwise, it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be hard to believe,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 how I feel at this point 香蕉视频直播� I don香蕉视频直播檛 know what he could do.香蕉视频直播�

As of late Friday, the petition had reached 3,800 signatures.

A spokesperson for the City of Edmonton said the city hasn香蕉视频直播檛 received any requests to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive.

香蕉视频直播淎nyone who wants to make a request for a renaming needs to fill in an application and get letters of support along with other required information,香蕉视频直播� Kris Berezanski said in an email.