"There was a story this week about whether or not he was blocked by Hockey Canada to go in and read the lineup before the Gold Medal Game. He reached out, and I think he just wanted to put this to bed. I don't think he wants the story to continue. He said that he and his family were treated very well by Hockey Canada this week."
"But what he did say was that there was some kind of misunderstanding before the Gold Medal Game. He went down to ice level, and an IOC security person didn't recognize Wayne Gretzky and told him he couldn't be there, so he just left. I think, obviously, it's a sensitive time. I don't think he wanted Hockey Canada to be taking any heat that they didn't deserve to take."
Wayne Gretzky faced controversy after claims emerged that Hockey Canada president Katherine Henderson barred him from the team's locker room before the 2026 Winter Olympics Gold Medal Game. Gretzky clarified the actual situation to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, explaining that an IOC security person didn't recognize him at ice level and denied him access, leading him to leave. He emphasized that he and his family were treated well by Hockey Canada throughout the week. Hockey Canada immediately denied the original accusations. Gretzky wanted to resolve the matter quickly to prevent undeserved criticism of Hockey Canada, despite the broader concern that Olympic security failed to recognize hockey's greatest player.
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