Tom Wilson is officially an Olympic athlete and helped Team Canada secure a big win in their first action at the 2026 Games in Italy.
The 31-year-old forward didn’t factor in on the scoresheet in the 5-0 shutout victory over Czechia, but his physical presence was felt throughout. Wilson, skating on Canada’s top line with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, finished Thursday’s game with 16:06 of ice time, a plus-1 rating, and one shot on goal.
Wilson was on the ice for Canada’s Olympic-opening goal from 19-year-old Celebrini, which ultimately ended up being the game-winner.
Canada’s head coach Jon Cooper kept the Celebrini-McDavid-Wilson trio together throughout the contest, and the three formed quick chemistry. Celebrini finished the game with his goal, while McDavid added three assists.
The Canadians did most of their damage in the back half of the game, getting their four other goals from Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nick Suzuki.
While Wilson was unable to join the late-game, goal-scoring parade, he left his stamp on the action with several big hits.
The Toronto native laid a particularly bone-crunching check on former Capitals teammate Radko Gudas during the second period. Gudas, clearly winded by the blow, made his slow way back to the Czech bench.
Ahead of puck drop, Wilson patrolled the center line during warmups, staring daggers through the Czechs on the other half of the rink. While there is no fighting in the Olympics, the Canadians set a physical tone right from puck drop.
During Wilson’s first shift of the game, it was his superstar linemate, McDavid, perhaps feeling a few inches taller with Wilson now on his line, who threw the first staggering body contact of the win.
The other Washington Capitals representative on Team Canada, goaltender Logan Thompson, backed up Jordan Binnington during the win. Binnington pitched a 26-save shutout in his first national team action since leading the Canadians to a win over Team USA in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.
Thompson will likely get the nod in net from Cooper on Friday against Switzerland as the Canadians play on back-to-back days to open group play. With their win on Thursday, they moved to the top of Group A, ahead of the Swiss based on goal differential.
