French Hockey Player Pierre Crinon Suspended After Fight with Tom Wilson at Olympics

Milan, Italy – France’s Pierre Crinon has been suspended from the remainder of the 2026 Winter Olympics following an on-ice altercation with Canada’s Tom Wilson during a preliminary round game on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The suspension was issued by the French Ice Hockey Federation on Monday, February 16, 2026, due to Crinon’s actions after the fight.

The Incident

The fight occurred with seven minutes remaining in Canada’s 10-2 victory over France. It began after Crinon delivered a forearm to the jaw of Canadian teammate Nathan MacKinnon, resulting in a penalty. Wilson immediately engaged Crinon, leading to a physical confrontation where Crinon slammed Wilson face-first into the ice. ESPN reports that both players were ejected from the game under International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules, which consider fighting a game misconduct, unlike the NHL’s 5-minute major penalty.

Suspension Details

The French Ice Hockey Federation determined that Crinon’s behavior following the fight was not in line with the federation’s values. The New York Times notes that Crinon was seen egging on the pro-Canada crowd as he left the ice. Crinon will miss Tuesday’s qualification round game against Germany and will not be eligible to play should France advance unexpectedly. The Associated Press confirms that the suspension extends for the remainder of the Olympic tournament.

IIHF and Canadian Response

The IIHF has not imposed any additional punishment on either player beyond the initial ejection. Canadian players, however, expressed support for Wilson’s actions. Brandon Hagel stated that Wilson “sticks up for teammates” and that his willingness to engage physically is a valued trait. The New York Times quoted Hagel as saying, “That’s what you call a team. That’s why everyone praises and loves Tom Wilson, because that’s the stuff he does.”

Canada’s Path Forward

Canada will continue its Olympic journey with a quarterfinal game on Wednesday against either Czechia or Denmark. ESPN reports that the team is focused on their next challenge despite the incident.