Wayne Gretzky Team Canada locker-room claim disputed after insider denies any request was made

Reports had spread on social media about Wayne Gretzky, and alleging that the Hockey Hall of Famer was barred from showing his support to Canada during the Olympics.

According to alleged comments made former NHLer Mike Commodore, shared by the '2 Mutts' podcast, team Canada president Katherine Henderson restricted Gretzky's access to the locker room ahead of the finals against team USA.

The allegation, which spread on social media, was criticized heavily by multiple hockey accounts, including former NHLers Ryan Whitney of Spittin Chiclets, and Theo Fleury.

However, it was confirmed by insider Chris Johnston that the claims made from 2 Mutts, citing Commodore, are inaccurate, and that there is no truth to the reporting.

Hockey Canada also posted on social media that the claims were inaccurate, but the rumor has continued it's spread on social media despite the denials.

Gretzky spoke during the gold medal game that he was proud to be a Canadian, saying that Canada and the United States were "like brothers and sisters".

Gretzky, arguably the greatest NHL player in history, has faced criticism over his support for U.S. President Donald Trump, a friendship that has continued despite repeated talks by Pres. Trump regarding a potential annexation of Canada.

Despite the rhetoric from the President, including a consistent talking point of making Canada the "51st State", Gretzky has continued to maintain personal relations with Trump.

The topic of politics and sport has increased with the United States gold medal winners meeting Pres. Trump at the White House, and later appearing at the State of the Union, with FBI director Kash Patel in the locker room during the Americans win.

Controversy ensued further with a comment made by Pres. Trump regarding the women's hockey team, which also won gold, saying that the team would have to be invited to D.C. to avoid being "cancelled".

Trump claimed during the State of the Union that the women would be coming to the White House, something that was not confirmed by team USA.

Political misinformation on social media platforms have only risen since the beginning of the second Trump term, on X being fueled by a lack of combating fake news since the takeover of the site formerly known as Twitter by Elon Musk, who himself has been cited for purveying in the spread on misinformation on the app.

Theo Fleury, one of those in the hockey sphere who reposted the allegations, has been noted in the past as sharing misinformation online.

Gretzky himself was used as the target of misinformation back in 2024 over advertisements online claiming he was arrested in what was a false ad for cryptocurrency.

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