Iconic Monument Smeared with Excrement in Act of Vandalism
The iconic statue of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky outside Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton was defaced early Friday with what appeared to be human excrement, shocking fans and passersby alike.
The defacement was discovered by visitors Lorne Thurston of British Columbia and Joseph McIntyre of Nova Scotia, who had come to admire and take photos with the tribute to Canada’s most celebrated hockey player.
“Disappointing. It shouldn’t have been done,” said McIntyre, dressed in a white Edmonton Oilers jersey.
“I thought people had more class,” added Thurston, visibly disturbed by the scene.
The act of vandalism was brought to the attention of Rogers Place staff, who immediately dispatched personnel to clean the statue using towels and disinfectant. The cleaning took place as a small group of concerned onlookers gathered around.
Unveiled in 1989 outside Northlands Coliseum, the bronze statue was relocated to Rogers Place in 2016 and has since remained a cherished fixture for Edmonton Oilers fans and hockey lovers across Canada. It commemorates Gretzky’s storied time with the team, during which he led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories and established multiple NHL records.
Despite his legendary status, Gretzky has recently stirred controversy in Canada for publicly supporting U.S. President Donald Trump and his call for Canada to consider joining the United States as its 51st state—remarks that have triggered significant backlash across the country.
While no official statement has been released by the Oilers Entertainment Group, fans like Juanita Taylor emphasized that the statue remains an important symbol to many Canadians.
“Why would someone want to do that?” she asked. “It might not mean much to some people, but it means something to others.”
As of this release, the Edmonton Police Service confirmed they had not received any formal reports regarding the vandalism, and no suspects have been identified.
The statue continues to attract attention both for the act of defilement and the deeper cultural conversation it has reignited about respect, patriotism, and public figures.