# Hockey great Wayne Gretzky defends relationship with President Trump and speaks on Russian hockey ban

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/hockey-great-wayne-gretzky-defends-relationship-with-president-trump-and-speaks-on-russian-hockey-ban/
- Published: 2026-11-06T18:30:18+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T20:56:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/hockey-great-wayne-gretzky-defends-relationship-president-trump-speaks-russian-hockey-ban
- Topics: Americas, Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Gretzky says people can hold their own views about his Trump friendship.
- He supports keeping Russian and Belarusian teams out of the tournament.
- Six European nations have threatened to boycott games against Russia.

## Summary

Wayne Gretzky defended his friendship with US President Donald Trump, saying people are entitled to their own opinions. The relationship has drawn criticism in Canada, particularly amid Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st US state, and has strained some Canadians’ affection for the hockey legend.

At an event in Toronto honouring his father, Gretzky also addressed the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian teams from the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta. He said he hoped the war in Ukraine would end and backed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s position that those teams should not compete in Canada while it continues. Six European countries have also threatened to boycott matches against Russia.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.