Tom Wilson Ejected After Fight Rocks Canada’s Olympic Win Over France
Tom Wilson was ejected from Canada’s preliminary-round game against France on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 (ET), after a third-period fight with Pierre Crinon. The bout followed a hard, high hit on Nathan MacKinnon and capped a night in which Canada rolled to a 10-2 victory.
Fight ignites after high hit on MacKinnon
The sequence that led to the brawl began when Pierre Crinon delivered a shoulder-to-head hit on Nathan MacKinnon earlier in the third period. MacKinnon, visibly irritated after the play, said the elbow connected when he had no possession of the puck. Crinon received a two-minute penalty for the hit and subsequently offered an apology to MacKinnon.
Moments later, tempers flared. Wilson — a physical forward known for his willingness to police opponents — confronted Crinon and the pair exchanged punches before officials intervened. Because fighting carries a game misconduct at the Olympic level rather than the standard five-minute major used in some other competitions, both players were sent from the game prior to its conclusion.
Ejections, reactions and possible discipline
The fight drew strong reactions in the Canadian locker room. MacKinnon praised Wilson’s response as protective of teammates, noting that the hit looked late and high. “Yeah, appreciate it. Obviously, Tom is a good teammate, and I definitely appreciate him sticking up for me, ” MacKinnon said after the game.
Linesman and teammate comments highlighted that Olympic hockey sees far fewer fights than some pro leagues, making the confrontation notable. Goaltender Jordan Binnington described the incident as uncommon in the Games but added that physicality is part of hockey. Connor McDavid framed Wilson’s actions as standing up for the group, calling him the kind of teammate who will protect others and bring energy.
International rules give the governing body the option to impose an additional one-game suspension for fighting on top of the game misconduct, but officials elected not to apply further discipline in this instance. With that decision, Wilson remains eligible for Canada’s upcoming quarterfinal, and Crinon is available for his nation’s qualifying-round schedule.
Wilson’s night and Canada’s march through group play
Wilson’s ejection came after a productive night on the scoresheet: he recorded a goal and an assist and completed what many in hockey circles call a Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist and a fight — before being removed. The 31-year-old, who has been a force for his NHL club this season, entered the break with solid offensive totals in league play.
Canada’s 10-2 win over France completed group play with three victories and a plus-17 goal differential. Sidney Crosby contributed three points in the victory and moved past Jarome Iginla to become the team’s leading scorer in Winter Games that have featured NHL players. Teammates lauded the depth and balance on display, noting that energy and physical play have been recurring themes through the preliminary slate.
On the French side, Crinon — a third-pair defenseman with modest pro experience — appeared to relish the moment, waving to the crowd as he left the ice. France’s captain noted that the matchup marked an unusual instance of fighting in international play and suggested the escalation stemmed from hard hits earlier in the game.
Officials and team staff will move quickly to refocus on the elimination phase of the tournament. For Canada, the takeaway is a mixture of dominant offense and intermittent discipline that could draw greater scrutiny in tighter matchups. For Wilson, the altercation underscored the forward’s role as both a scorer and an enforcer-type presence — a combination that remains polarizing but impactful in high-stakes international competition.
