HIGHLIGHTS
- Tom Wilson ejected for fighting in Canada’s 10-2 win over France
- Wilson completed rare Olympic Gordie Howe hat trick before ejection
- See video of the fight, plus full breakdown of Wilson’s Gordie Howe hat trick below
Tom Wilson just pulled off a Gordie Howe hat trick at the Olympics.
The Team Canada forward scored a goal, added an assist, and dropped the gloves with France’s Pierre Crinon in Sunday’s 10-2 blowout win. Wilson was ejected late in the third period for fighting, but not before putting together one of the more unique stat lines in Olympic history.
The fight came minutes after Crinon delivered a high hit to the head of Nathan MacKinnon. Wilson didn’t waste time standing up for his teammate.
Wilson caught Crinon with a hard hit behind the French net. Crinon responded with glove punches, and the two dropped the mitts near center ice. They exchanged a few shots before Crinon wrestled Wilson to the ice and officials stepped in.
Video:
Both players received two-minute roughing minors, five-minute fighting majors, and automatic game misconducts. Fighting is prohibited under the IIHF rules used at the Olympics, resulting in automatic ejections.
Unlike the NHL, where fighting results in a five-minute major without ejection, Olympic rules are stricter. Any player who persists in an altercation or resists officials trying to intervene gets an automatic game misconduct.
The good news for Canada? There will be no suspension.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the IIHF decided against further discipline. Wilson will be eligible to play in Canada’s quarterfinal round. The fighting major doesn’t carry an automatic one-game suspension under the 2025-26 IIHF rulebook.
Wilson opened the scoring for Canada at the 8:41 mark of the first period. He forechecked hard behind the French net, sealed off a defender, and buried the rebound after Drew Doughty’s point shot hit the pads.
His assist came on Connor McDavid’s goal early in the third period. Wilson filtered a loose puck to McDavid, who played a give-and-go with Macklin Celebrini before breaking in alone and finishing past French goaltender Antoine Keller.
Then came the fight, completing the Gordie Howe hat trick.
“Goal, helper, and a dance. Feels like home,” Wilson joked after the game.
MacKinnon expressed appreciation for Wilson sticking up for him. Coach Jon Cooper characterized the incident as “boys being boys.”
Wilson’s physical presence was a key reason for his Olympic selection, particularly after the chippy 4 Nations Face-Off between Canada and the USA last year. The 31-year-old Washington Capitals winger has a lengthy suspension history in the NHL, but is having a career year with 23 goals and 49 points in 50 games.
This was Wilson’s third Gordie Howe hat trick this season. He last pulled one off on New Year’s Eve against the Rangers, the same day he was named to Team Canada’s roster.
Crinon, a 30-year-old defenseman who plays in France’s Ligue Magnus, was suspended seven games earlier this season for punching a goaltender. He finished Sunday’s game with one assist and 33 penalty minutes through three Olympic contests.
Of note, the Wilson vs Cronin fight was the first recorded fight at the Olympics since 1998.
Canada finished the preliminary round with a perfect 3-0 record and a plus-17 goal differential. They’ll enter the quarterfinals as the tournament’s top seed. McDavid had four points in the win, while Sidney Crosby added two.
Canada will be back in action on Wednesday against an opponent yet to be determined.
