Canada stood behind winger Tom Wilson as he engaged in a physical altercation to defend a teammate during their commanding victory over France at the Winter Olympics. The 10-2 win had already captivated the audience before Wilson confronted an opposing player.
While fighting is a common occurrence in ice hockey, it is typically discouraged at the Winter Olympics. Nevertheless, in light of Canada’s secure lead, veteran player Wilson from the Washington Capitals opted to challenge France’s Pierre Crinon.
The incident was sparked when Crinon aggressively collided with Nathan MacKinnon in the third period, delivering a blow to his face with his forearm. Despite Crinon receiving a two-minute penalty and Canada capitalizing on the subsequent powerplay, Wilson felt compelled to take matters into his own hands.
In a bold move, the 31-year-old discarded his gloves on the ice to engage with Crinon, fully aware that this action would result in his ejection from the game. The International Ice Hockey Federation considers fighting as a misconduct, leading to both Wilson and Crinon being ejected for the final seven minutes of the match.
Although Wilson’s actions led to his removal from the game, Canada, already in a winning position, supported his decision, as they advance to the elimination stage of the men’s ice hockey tournament in Italy. His teammates in the Canada dressing room commended his protective stance.
Connor McDavid, a prominent player for Canada, expressed his support for Wilson, stating, “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.”
Teammate MacKinnon, acknowledging Wilson’s physical prowess, remarked, “That guy obviously didn’t want to fight Tom. He just wanted to wrestle. I wouldn’t want to fight Tom either.”
Despite the unconventional nature of the altercation in the tournament, Drew Doughty emphasized Wilson’s role in defending his team, stating, “When a guy takes a run at one of our big guys, that’s what Willy does. I mean, he does a lot more than that, but it was great to see him step up.”
Sam Bennett echoed the sentiment, noting Wilson’s commitment to protecting his teammates and boosting team morale, saying, “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.”
Canada’s head coach, Jon Cooper, expressed no qualms about the incident, stating, “Sticking up for his teammates, that’s an easy one for him.” Goalkeeper Jordan Binnington encapsulated the team’s perspective, remarking, “I definitely wasn’t surprised. That’s hockey, right? That’s hockey.”