Canada holds a multitude of records in sports and each leaves a lasting impression. The country has made its name known in multiple sports, such as hockey, rowing, lacrosse, soccer, and even curling. However, a momentous record was broken as of Sunday, April 6, which set a new legacy for hockey. Wayne Gretzky has held the record of most career goals for over 26 years, with most hockey fans considering him a national hero and the best player of all time.
Although his public support for President Donald Trump has led to a decline in his public image, Gretzky’s legacy still leaves a lasting effect on hockey. Studies have shown that public support for Gretzky has dropped, and fewer Canadians are still viewing him as a hero, which begs the question: Will Gretzky’s legacy continue to leave an impact after Alex Ovechkin surpassed him in career goals and his support for Trump continues?
First of all, it would be extremely difficult to erase any of Gretzky’s records’ impacts due to the idea that his records were unbeatable for over two decades. Secondly, due to his extreme dedication to the sport, he’s earned the title some fans call “The Great One.” He’s also earned the position as the universal symbol for hockey. Today, even with all the negative views from fans, it would be impossible to discredit his accomplishments in the sport. He has over 60 NHL records, four Stanley Cups, nine Hart Trophies, five Lady Byng Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Alex Ovechkin has made a legacy in his home country, Russia, and is not far off from making one in America. It hasn’t come without challenges, though—because of Ovechkin’s close ties to Putin, he’s been highly criticized for his support for the invasion of Ukraine. One of the biggest issues most people have with it revolves around one picture he posted on his Instagram account: himself holding a trophy with Putin in front of the Russian team after they won the men’s ice hockey World Championship in 2014. This is huge for hockey, as most other sports organizations have either banned Russian players from playing or from speaking out on the invasion. The NHL has not made any movements.
Ovechkin scoring his 895th goal on April 6 makes it even tougher on the NHL organization. If they were to kick Ovechkin out of the league, one of Putin’s proud accomplishments would be completely discredited, and other Russian players would also have to face similar punishment. On the contrary, if the NHL decides not to do anything regarding the matter, opposing fans will be outraged that someone who can support Russia is allowed to hold the record over Ovechkin.
In all, Alex Ovechkin has an excellent opportunity to affect the sport as much as Gretzky has, and Gretzky’s legacy won’t be torn down regardless of his political views. It’s a historical moment for hockey fans and sports history the same.
