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NHL insider denies claim that Wayne Gretzky was blocked from seeing Team Canada players before Gold Medal Game


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Tom Banks
February 26, 2026  (2:09 PM)
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Canadian former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky is present for the game between Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place.
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Wayne Gretzky has a complicated relationship with Canada, but after a report revealed a disrespectful move, it's been shut down entirely.

The 2026 Olympic Games were meant to be the crowning moment for Team Canada with the NHL permitted to return to the Olympics, and both the men and women made it to the Gold Medal Game, matching up with the United States in both tournaments following some incredible play from both sides.
Unfortunately, they came up short in both games in overtime, and just a few days later, former NHLer Mike Commodore reported on the Barn Burner podcast that ahead of the games, Wayne Gretzky was blocked from entering the locker room to talk to Team Canada by President Katherine Henderson.

NHL Insider refutes report about Wayne Gretzky

Shortly after these comments were made, the story circulated all over social media, but according to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, the report from Commodore is 100% untrue, as Gretzky never requested to enter the room before the men matched up with the United States.
On the surface, given the rocky relationship that plenty in Canada have with Gretzky stemming from comments in the past few years, there was a chance this could be true, but given how quick this report was refuted, it's easy to believe Johnston's comments here.
Ultimately, it's certainly easy to make a report like this about a legend, especially one that has been at the centre of controversy with his home country in recent years, but at the end of the day, it doesn't make too much sense, with Johnston shutting it down immediately.
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NHL insider denies claim that Wayne Gretzky was blocked from seeing Team Canada players before Gold Medal Game

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