Tom Wilson received a special gift from Team Canada after registering what is believed to be the first Gordie Howe Hat Trick in Olympic history.
In Canada’s 10-2 group stage win over France on February 15, Wilson scored a goal, registered an assist on a Connor McDavid tally, and then fought French defender Pierre Crinon, avenging a Nathan MacKinnon headshot minutes earlier.
“I’m still trying to figure out how I got so many penalty minutes,” Wilson, who was tossed from the game and penalized 27 minutes for the incident, said at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday. “It was one of those things where it just kind of happened.”
Wilson revealed that he later received a memorable present from Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper for the act, showing just how much players and management appreciated his stepping up to defend a teammate.
“The guys got me — I guess Coop got me an Italian… I don’t even know what you call it… hat,” Wilson said. “And everyone signed it just as a memory of that moment having a Gordie Howe hat trick. Those are the little things.”
When asked to describe his new European fashion-ware, Wilson said that it was a “short brim, small hat, but like, classy. I don’t know what you’d call it. I think it’s kind of whatever they could find last-minute.”
The gift further highlighted much of what made Wilson’s experience so special.
“Truly an incredible, remarkable locker room,” Wilson said. “You know, you had to kind of sit there at some points and just kind of look around and realize the greatness that is sitting beside you.”
Wilson also brought home from Milan-Cortina the silver medal he earned when Canada finished second in the tournament, and a stuffed animal that a grumpy Nathan MacKinnon made famous.
The Capitals’ alternate captain was presented a Tina the Stoat stuffie after being awarded his silver medal on the ice. Tina was the official mascot of the Olympic Games.
“Yeah, I kept the stuffed animal, yeah,” he said.
