Canada supported winger Tom Wilson following his decision to engage in a fight to defend a teammate during their dominant victory over France at the Winter Olympics. The 10-2 win had already provided excitement for the spectators before Wilson confronted an opponent.
Although fighting is a common occurrence in ice hockey, it is typically discouraged in the Winter Olympics. Despite Canada’s secure lead, veteran player Wilson from the Washington Capitals opted to challenge France’s Pierre Crinon.
The altercation was triggered when Crinon aggressively collided with Nathan MacKinnon in the third period, striking him in the face with his forearm. Crinon received a two-minute penalty, and Canada capitalized on the powerplay that followed. However, Wilson believed more needed to be done to retaliate.
In a bold move, the 31-year-old threw down his gloves to face off against Crinon, fully aware that it would result in his ejection from the game. The International Ice Hockey Federation views fighting as misconduct, leading to the expulsion of both Wilson and Crinon for the final seven minutes of the match.
Despite the consequences, Canada deemed Wilson’s actions justified, given their victory and advancement to the elimination stage of the men’s ice hockey competition in Italy. Wilson’s teammates in the Canada dressing room also approved of his intervention.
“We didn’t like the hit: felt like it was late and high,” expressed Canada star Connor McDavid. “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.”
Regarding the incident, MacKinnon, who stands at 6ft 4in, commented, “That guy obviously didn’t want to fight Tom. He just wanted to wrestle. I wouldn’t want to fight Tom either.”
The team echoed their appreciation for Wilson’s protective nature, with statements like, “We know Willy’s got our backs,” from Sam Bennett. Head coach Jon Cooper supported Wilson’s actions, emphasizing the importance of sticking up for teammates.
Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington encapsulated the team’s sentiment, stating, “I definitely wasn’t surprised. That’s hockey, right? That’s hockey.”