Canada supported winger Tom Wilson following his decision to engage in a physical altercation to defend a teammate during their significant win against France at the Winter Olympics. The 10-2 triumph had already provided excitement for the spectators when Wilson took exception to an opposing player.
Although fighting is a common occurrence in ice hockey, it is typically discouraged at the Winter Olympics. Nevertheless, with Canada comfortably leading, veteran player Wilson from the Washington Capitals opted to confront France’s Pierre Crinon.
The Canadian team was incensed by Crinon’s aggressive hit on Nathan MacKinnon in the third period, resulting in a two-minute penalty for the French player. Despite Canada scoring during the ensuing powerplay, Wilson felt that more needed to be done.
In a bold move, the 31-year-old discarded his gloves to challenge Crinon, fully aware that this action would lead to his expulsion from the game. The International Ice Hockey Federation considers fighting as misconduct, resulting in both Wilson and Crinon being ejected for the final seven minutes of the match.
This sacrifice was deemed worthwhile by Canada, already assured of victory and progressing to the elimination phase of the men’s ice hockey competition in Italy. Wilson’s teammates in the Canada dressing room applauded his intervention.
“We were displeased with the hit: it seemed late and high,” remarked Canada star Connor McDavid. “Willy merely defended himself after finishing a check and being jumped by the opponent. That’s his character and commitment as a teammate. We have nothing but respect for him.”
MacKinnon, standing at 6ft 4in, acknowledged, “That guy clearly wasn’t looking to fight Tom. He just wanted to grapple. I wouldn’t want to face off against Tom either.”
While fighting is not a prevalent feature in this tournament, Drew Doughty noted, “When someone targets our key players, that’s what Willy does. He does much more than that, but it was commendable to see him step up.”
Expressing their confidence in Wilson, Sam Bennett stated, “Willy always has our backs. He will defend all of us and bring the energy. We appreciate that from Willy. He will do whatever it takes for our team.”
Canada’s head coach Jon Cooper had no qualms about the incident, stating, “We are accustomed to far more intense situations, so this was relatively harmless in the grand scheme of things. Standing up for his teammates is second nature to him.”
Goalkeeper Jordan Binnington encapsulated the team’s sentiment, saying, “I wasn’t surprised at all. This is hockey, after all. That’s just how it goes.”