The Gretzky statues in Brantford got a mysterious MAGA makeover

It’s been a tough week for Wayne Gretzky. First, the hockey legend became a global laughing stock for his inability to recall Grade 10 geography during the FIFA World Cup draw. Now, we’ve learned that the statues outside of the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in his hometown of Brantford have been defaced—or dressed up for the holidays, depending on your political leanings.

Related: Wake up, Canada—Wayne Gretzky is MAGA

The statues were originally unveiled in 2013, a tribute to “The Great One” as well as his famously devoted parents, Walter and Phyllis, who are rendered in bronze beside their teenage son. All three family members stare up at a larger statue of adult Wayne hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head. On Monday morning, the two Waynes were wearing red MAGA hats while Walter wore a Santa hat with an Order of Canada medal around his neck.

Confused? Don’t worry, the vandals left a note: “Alright folks, can we stop treating Gretzky like a hero?” reads a temporary plaque. “Eh, back in the day he was a real beaut on the ice…. But now he can’t stop playing putt putt with Epstein’s top shelf bud.”

Related: Did Canada get the World Cup’s sloppy seconds?

The reference here is to Gretzky’s recent day on the links with his good pal (and frequent defender) Donald Trump. And, of course, the broader context is Gretzky’s failure to take any kind of stand in the face of his golf buddy’s trade war and threats of annexation. The plaque goes on to suggest that it is Walter Gretzky, who died in 2021, who deserves an Order of Canada, and it seems like the Santa hat is a further reference to his admirable character.

A representative from the City of Brantford says the hats were seen and quickly removed on Monday morning. She added that this was an isolated incident, which is technically true, although the Gretzky statue in Edmonton was smeared with feces last March, presumably a response to his Trump ties.

No word on whether Gretzky is aware of this statue’s MAGA makeover. It’s also unclear whether he’d consider it an insult given his history of pro-Trump headwear. Gretzky has maintained that he is a proud Canadian, just not someone who takes much of an interest in politics. And who can blame him? Politics are messy and complicated, while an afternoon of putt putt with the wannabe dictator currently gripping your home nation by the short and curlies is, er, a good time?