“Brought immense pride and greatness”: Mayor Kevin Davis came in to support Wayne Gretzky amid ongoing backlash

Mayor Kevin Davis and community leaders have voiced strong endorsement of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, citing his influence on the game and his hometown. They noted his efforts to inspire young players, advance the sport of hockey, and give back to charitable causes. The community remains supportive of Gretzky, citing his enduring legacy on and off the ice.

Mayor Kevin Davis, and a number of other well-known community leaders, have made public statements in favor of local hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. The great player, affectionately known as The Great One, has been a source of hometown pride for years, and his influence on the game can still be seen across the globe.

Davis and others stressed Gretzky's off-ice contribution to the game and to the community, in addition to highlighting his on-ice achievements as a player and inspiration to youngsters. They touted his leadership and commitment, the legacy he's created on the ice, as well as on it.
As talk of Wayne Gretzky's legacy builds, much of the community has banded behind him, acknowledging his enduring legacy on the game and the generations of players he has influenced. Such overwhelming support from Davis and others highlights just how much Gretzky is to his hometown and the wider hockey community.
“I judge people on what they’ve done for our community not by their associations and Wayne and the entire Gretzky family have done a great deal for the City of Brantford,” Davis said Friday. “His contributions to the community and to Canada began years ago and continue to this day. The Gretzky family has brought immense pride and greatness to Brantford,” Davis said.

Gretzky has faced criticism for supporting US President Donald Trump by attending his inauguration and wearing a Make America Great Again hat. He also served as Team Canada's honorary captain at the Four Nations Face-off in February, wearing a suit instead of a Team Canada jersey, further fueling the controversy.
Davis acknowledged local dissatisfaction with the Four Nations final and Gretzky's association with the U.S. president. “They’re entitled to their opinions just like everyone else,” Davis said. “But I don’t think their views are at all representative of the city. The overwhelming majority of residents don’t support that view and those of us who have been involved with the Gretzky family over the years appreciate and respect what they’ve done for the community.”
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