Hockey's "Great One" has waded into the debate over the war in Iraq. Speaking to Canada AM Tuesday, Wayne Gretzky says he's a big fan of U.S. President George W. Bush and supports his decision to enter into war against Iraq.

"I live in the United States right now. I elected the president. I happen to think he's a great leader and a wonderful president," Gretzky told CTV's Seamus O'Regan. "And if he believes that we need to be where we are right now, for the freedom of the world, I back him 100 per cent."

"No one likes war, no one wants to see casualties, no one wants to see POWs. Unfortunately, that's a part of war," he added. "But we've got to believe in our president and I happen to think he's a great leader."

The hockey star was in Calgary for a Ronald McDonald Children's Charities event in Calgary when he made the remarks. He's here raising support for the 4th Annual Wayne Gretzky and Friends Invitational Golf Tournament in July, in support of Calgary's Ronald McDonald House.

Gretzky said his opinion on the war in Iraq has been influenced by the fact that he has a cousin in the U.S. Marines who's been in the Gulf region since September.

"I'm pretty close to him actually. I was able to communicate with him over the last four or five months through email when he was in Kuwait. And he's proud to serve his country, he believes in his cause and he believes in what he is doing. And maybe that why I'm so behind this whole thing," Gretzky said.

"Here's a guy who believes in his freedom, he believes in it. So we back him and our prayers are with him every day."

Gretzky, who has dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship, also said Canadians should back Prime Minister Jean Chretien's decision not to send troops to the war.

"Listen, everyone has an opinion over whether what we did was right or wrong. But again, the people of Canada elected their leader, they believe in him and they have to believe in his decision. He decided not to go to Iraq and we have to back him as a country," Gretzky said.

"People are going to believe he's right or wrong, but the bottom line is: He's our leader and when he makes a decision, we have to follow it."