The Wayne Gretzky statue outside Rogers Place in Edmonton has been vandalized with feces.
A CTV News Edmonton photographer captured images of the fecal matter smeared on the statue on Friday morning.
The photographer also noted the smell of fecal matter surrounding the statue.
The four-time Stanley Cup winner has recently caught the ire of many Canadians because of his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, even prompting the president to defend the so-called “Great One,” claiming Gretzky wants Canada to remain a sovereign nation.
It’s unclear if the vandalism has political motivations.
The 950-pound, 9-foot 2-inch bronze likeness of Gretzky was initially unveiled on Aug. 27, 1989 at the old Northlands Coliseum.
It was moved to the new arena in downtown Edmonton in 2016.
Friday night, a spokesperson for the Edmonton Oilers sent a statement to CTV News.
“It’s unfortunate over the past several years we’ve had to deal with issues of disorder in our downtown core,” said Tim Shipton, EVP, External Affairs, OEG Sports and Entertainment.
“We have zero tolerance for vandalism of any kind within our (Entertainment) District, especially one of the city’s most iconic landmarks that celebrates the career of Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player to ever play the game, and his special connection with Oilers fans around the world,” Shipton added.
“We are currently investigating and will take the appropriate next steps as information becomes available.”
