The French Ice Hockey Federation suspended Pierre Crinon, the player involved in a rare international game fight with Canada’s Tom Wilson, for the remainder of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday (February 16), ESPN reports.
Crinon will miss France’s final qualifying round game against Germany on Tuesday (February 17) and won’t be allowed to play if the team unexpectedly advances after the federation said his actions violated its rules. Wilson dropped his gloves during the third period of his team’s 10-2 blowout win Sunday (February 15) minutes after Crinon threw a forearm to Nathan MacKinnon‘s head and was ejected. Ice hockey typically prohibits fighting during international games with the last Olympic incident taking place during the 1998 Nagano Games.
The International Ice Hockey Federation didn’t plan to punish Wilson or Crinon beyond the initial ejection, according to ESPN. Crinon was given a two-minute minor penalty for striking MacKinnon and apologized after the initial forearm incident took place.
Canada scored 25 seconds into the power play, but felt it was necessary to give more punishment.
“We didn’t like the hit, felt like it was late and high,” said Canada’s Connor McDavid, the tournament’s leading scorer, who finished with one goal and two assists via ESPN. “Willy just finishes a check and the guy jumps him, and Willy’s just protecting himself. That’s all he can do. That’s the type of guy he is, type of teammate he is. Nothing but respect for him.”
Canada improved to 3-0 with Sunday’s win and currently leads Group A with nine points.
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