Wayne Gretzky (wayne gretzky) on the Gold Medal game and family time in Milan

wayne gretzky said he wanted people to "worry about the game" when pressed about tensions tied to his relationship with Canada, and he is in Milan as a fan having a "great time" with "my 3 boys" while cheering Team Canada toward the Canada–U. S. gold-medal final.

Wayne Gretzky in Milan

Gretzky has been "swanning around Milan" and was seen leaving a message after signing a photograph on the wall of the hockey arena in Milan that showed him from the 1998 Nagano Olympics. The NHL’s all-time points leader, known as No. 99, is at these games as a fan and is not there with a network or company; he simply took his kids over to cheer on Canada.

Panel moment with James Duthie

Ahead of the Canada-Finland semi-final, Gretzky appeared on a televised panel where host James Duthie raised the wider tensions between Canada and the U. S. Duthie spoke of an "unsettling year for Canadians" and asked Gretzky what his message would be to Canadians. Gretzky, who took a two-handed grip on his mic and said "Ha ha ha, " replied "Right, " then answered: "Very simple. First of all, let's worry about the game. That's most important. "

Watching the Canada-Finland semi-final

Mark Messier, left, and Wayne Gretzky, centre, watched the men's semi-final between Canada and Finland. The Canadians pulled through in overtime in the quarterfinal before winning the semifinal against Finland on a goal in the last minute on Friday. Observers could see the nervousness on both Gretzky and Mark Messier's faces.

Nervousness and family details

A friend said, "Wayne was so nervous he couldn't sit any more and had to walk around. " Gretzky himself said, "Ya it’s unreal here, " and described that he is there with "my 3 boys" and having a "great time. " Those nerves were noted as mounting as the hockey world anticipates what is expected to be the most watched game ever Sunday morning, the looming Canada versus U. S. final.

Past Olympics and expectations

Gretzky fell short as a player at the 1998 Olympic Games but managed the 2002 team to gold in Salt Lake City. He reiterated his sporting position in the panel exchange, saying, "I want Canada to win a gold medal. I've never wavered from that. " He will be cheering on the red and white for what was described as an expected Olympic classic between Canada and the U. S., a game people recognise could go either way.

Resentment, deflection and reaction

More than a year after he "blew up his relationship with Canada, " Gretzky decided to address the issue. Commentary noted that Gretzky has long been "a wonderful deflector of the puck, " and through his answers one could feel his resentment, described as mostly coming from having his loyalty called into doubt after he had very deliberately put his own loyalty in doubt. He ended the panel comments with family imagery: "Canada and the USA are like brothers and sisters. They're going to fight and argue, but eventually you come together, right? And that's the way I see it. "

Critics in the context of that exchange were pointed: "Tell that to a Canadian who's losing their job in the manufacturing sector. It will hearten them immensely to learn that this is how family operates. You sign contracts and then dad accuses you of drug dealing, tells you China is about to steal hockey and then decides that he's throwing you out of the house. "

Defenders note that Gretzky didn't ask to be a representative of the country and that the job was pushed on him. But commentary also observed he did not have to accept that role: if he tired of it, "he could have quit. Moved to Arizona, and never made a big deal about visiting home. "

On balance, Gretzky combines nerves over the immediate gold-medal game with the longer, charged debate over his standing — all while spending time with family in Milan and preparing to cheer Team Canada in the Canada–U. S. final.

Closing: Wayne Gretzky remains in Milan as a fan, described as having a "great time" with "my 3 boys, " watched the Canada-Finland semi-final with Mark Messier, and when asked about tensions replied that the priority should be the game and that he wants Canada to win a gold medal.