Visitors to downtown Edmonton were dismayed to find the statue of hockey icon Wayne Gretzky had been defaced. Lorne Thurston and Joseph McIntyre, who were hoping to see the statue, discovered it was covered in what appeared to be feces.
McIntyre, an Oilers jersey-wearing fan visiting from Nova Scotia, expressed his disappointment, stating, “It shouldn’t have been done.” Thurston, from British Columbia, echoed this sentiment, saying he expected more respect from people.
They watched as a Rogers Place employee cleaned the statue. The Gretzky statue, originally erected in 1989 at Northlands Coliseum, was moved to its current location in 2016.
Recently, Gretzky has faced criticism in Canada for supporting former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Despite any controversy, Gretzky remains an Edmonton legend, having led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups and achieved numerous scoring records. He was traded to Los Angeles in 1988.
Fans like Juanita Taylor expressed confusion and sadness over the vandalism, emphasizing the statue’s importance to many.
Tim Shipton, an executive with OEG Sports & Entertainment, condemned the vandalism, highlighting the statue’s significance as a tribute to Gretzky and his connection with fans. He stated that they are investigating the incident.
Edmonton Police reported they were not aware of the vandalism.
Tristan Blackwood