Tom Wilson made more headlines at the 2026 Winter Olympics after getting into the first fight in a men’s hockey tournament since 1998. The bout, against French defenseman Pierre Crinon, completed an Olympic Gordie Howe hat trick for Wilson and came in response to Crinon’s headshot of Canadian superstar Nathan MacKinnon.
The fight took some onlookers by surprise, as dropping the gloves is commonplace in the NHL but prohibited under international rules. However, the least stunned people were perhaps Wilson’s Canadian teammates, especially MacKinnon, who praised Wilson for sticking up for him after Crinon only received a two-minute minor penalty for his high hit earlier in the game.
“He elbowed me in the face, and I was nowhere near the puck,” MacKinnon told TSN postgame. “Yeah, appreciate it. Obviously, Tom is a good teammate, and I definitely appreciate him sticking up for me.”
After Wilson hit Crinon hard behind France’s net during an ensuing shift, the defender responded by throwing a shot to the back of Wilson’s helmet. Crinon then pulled Wilson to the ice, which infuriated the big winger, and caused him to get up and charge at Crinon before the on-ice officials could separate the two players.
“That guy obviously didn’t want to fight Tom,” MacKinnon added to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “He just wanted to wrestle. I wouldn’t want to fight Tom either.”
Many of Wilson’s fellow countrymen echoed the sentiment, showing appreciation for him stepping up for one of his teammates.
“We didn’t like the hit. Felt like it was late and high,” Connor McDavid told Fox. “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.”
“He’s doing what he does,” Bo Horvat told TSN. “To have that presence out there, to have him protect his players and care about every single guy in our room. It’s the type of person you want on your team. I’m glad he’s on my team.”
Given how his night ended via ejection, Wilson wasn’t made available to the media, but his teammates continued to do all of the talking for him anyway.
“Obviously, fighting isn’t a big thing in this tournament, but when a guy takes a run at one of our big guys, that’s what Willy does,” Drew Doughty said, per the AP’s Stephen Whyno. “I mean, he does a lot more than that, but it was great to see him step up.”
“We know Willy’s got our backs,” Sam Bennett told Fox. “He’s going to protect all our guys and bring the energy. We love that from Willy. He’s going to do anything for our team.”
Wilson’s bout with Crinon came exactly a year after the Canadians and Americans participated in an all-time classic game at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The rivalry matchup featured three fights: Matthew Tkachuk vs. Brandon Hagel, Brady Tkachuk vs. Sam Bennett, and JT Miller vs. Colton Parayko.
Team Canada did not select Wilson for their roster then, and the Washington Capitals winger later lamented not being able to get involved in the rough stuff. He made up for that lost chance on Sunday.
“Listen, I don’t think we can go through this tournament without seeing one,” Hagel said, per Fox. “It was probably the talk about him coming to the tournament. But that’s just what Willy does — he sticks up for teammates. We didn’t like what happened to Mack behind the net. That’s what you call a team. That’s why everyone praises and loves Tom Wilson. Because that’s the stuff he does.”
After previously looking like he may have lost his spot on Canada’s top line against Switzerland, Wilson spent the 10-2 blowout victory over France back next to McDavid and Macklin Celebrini. After the win, head coach Jon Cooper spoke about Wilson’s impact both on and off the ice for the Canadians.
“Well, I think that’s a big part of what we’re all about,” Cooper told Fox. “These guys go through a wall for each other. It’s fun to watch. And, listen, we’re used to a lot more than that happening. It was pretty harmless in the grand scheme of things. But that’s Willy. Willy’s much more than that. The kid’s a helluva hockey player and outstanding in the locker room. So, sticking up for his teammates, that’s an easy one for him.”
With Sunday’s win, Team Canada is likely through to the quarterfinals as the tournament’s top seed. The Group A winners will play next on February 18 against an opponent yet to be determined.
