Canadian hockey star Tom Wilson ejected from Olympic game for fighting
Tom Wilson was ejected from a Winter Olympics match against France after fighting with Pierre Crinon following a controversial hit on his teammate.
In a heated matchup during the Winter Olympics, Canadian hockey player Tom Wilson was ejected for fighting against French defenseman Pierre Crinon. The incident occurred in the third period after Crinon delivered a controversial elbow to Canadian center Nathan MacKinnon, leading to escalating tensions on the ice. Although Crinon received a two-minute penalty for his hit, both players were dismissed from the game following their altercation, which reflects the strict fighting regulations in Olympic hockey where players are ejected rather than penalized with a fighting major.
Wilson, notable for his physical style of play, also had a productive game before his ejection, contributing a goal and an assist, thereby achieving the coveted 'Gordie Howe hat trick'—a term that denotes a player scoring a goal, providing an assist, and getting into a fight in one game. The match was significant for Wilson, who is relatively new to the Canadian squad as he missed previous tournaments like the Four Nations Face-Off. His involvement in such a pivotal way reflects both his commitment to the team and the physical nature of Olympic ice hockey.
This ejection has broader implications as it showcases the evolution of hockey at the Olympic level, where the enforcement of fighting rules contrasts sharply with the NHL's more lenient approach to player altercations. Hockey's governing bodies aim to promote skill and safety over physical violence in the sport, making Wilson's ejection a notable moment in the context of Olympic regulations and the image of hockey as a sport.