The Canadian hockey legend known as 91裸聊视频淭he Great One91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频�51st state91裸聊视频� of the U.S., prompting mass criticism from politicians and residents north of the border.

Those critiques appeared to grow louder after Canada91裸聊视频檚 overtime win Thursday at the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston. Gretzky was Team Canada91裸聊视频檚 honorary captain.

Terry Jones, a sports writer who covered the Edmonton Oilers for 55 years, said Trump91裸聊视频檚 stated ambitions to annex Canada have made calls for clarity around Gretzky91裸聊视频檚 views more urgent.

91裸聊视频淚 consider him a great Canadian,91裸聊视频� said Jones, who has written several books about Gretzky. Jones is a also Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

91裸聊视频淏ut obviously the relationship with Trump has become a focus, and I can91裸聊视频檛 believe in my heart and soul that Wayne Gretzky believes Canada should be the 51st state.91裸聊视频�

Gretzky91裸聊视频檚 connection to Trump has come into the public eye over the past year.

Gretzky and his wife attended Trump91裸聊视频檚 inauguration in January, and he has been photographed with Trump several times at the president91裸聊视频檚 Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Gretzky was also photographed at Trump91裸聊视频檚 election victory party wearing a Make America Great Again hat.

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

91裸聊视频淚 said, 91裸聊视频楻un for prime minister, you91裸聊视频檒l win,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Trump said. 91裸聊视频淏ut (Gretzky) said, 91裸聊视频楢m I going to run for prime minister or governor, you tell me.91裸聊视频� I said, 91裸聊视频業 don91裸聊视频檛 know, let91裸聊视频檚 make it governor.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Gretzky has not publicly discussed his political affiliations, leading to questions about his level of support for Trump91裸聊视频檚 agenda, as the president91裸聊视频檚 tariff threats and 91裸聊视频�51st state91裸聊视频� rhetoric ramp up.

Gretzky91裸聊视频檚 perceived reluctance to state his beliefs has affected his reputation among some Canadians, Jones said.

He adds that he doesn91裸聊视频檛 object to the 64-year-old Gretzky attending Trump91裸聊视频檚 inauguration.

91裸聊视频淚f I91裸聊视频檓 right that (Gretzky) doesn91裸聊视频檛 think Canada should become the 51st state, he should step up and say it,91裸聊视频� Jones said.

91裸聊视频淚 certainly haven91裸聊视频檛 turned on Wayne Gretzky or changed any degree of my absolute admiration for the guy.91裸聊视频�

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, didn91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频渞egularly communicates with recipients to determine their availability to participate in an investiture ceremony to receive their insignia.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚f he91裸聊视频檚 going to flip now and make a statement saying otherwise, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be hard to believe,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 how I feel at this point 91裸聊视频� I don91裸聊视频檛 know what he could do.91裸聊视频�

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

A spokesperson for the City of Edmonton said the city hasn91裸聊视频檛 received any requests to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive.

91裸聊视频淎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,91裸聊视频� Kris Berezanski said in an email.