France Suspends Pierre Crinon After Fight with Tom Wilson for Olympic Remainder

In a recent Olympic hockey match, Pierre Crinon of France was suspended after a significant altercation with Canadian player Tom Wilson. This incident took place during Canada’s impressive 10-2 win over France, where Wilson achieved a Gordie Howe hat trick by scoring a goal, assisting on another, and engaging in a fight.

Pierre Crinon’s Controversial History

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman Crinon, who currently plays for Brûleurs de Loups in France’s Ligue Magnus, has a history of on-ice controversies. Earlier this season, he faced a seven-game suspension for violently attacking a goalie who was not wearing a mask, an action that injured the netminder’s eye.

Throughout his career, Crinon has been more notorious for his penalties than his points. This season, he has accumulated 66 penalty minutes in just 29 games. If his performance continued at this pace in the NHL, it would translate to a staggering total of 187 penalty minutes over a full season, ranking him just above Wilson’s 178 penalty minutes from the last NHL season.

Suspension Following the Altercation

Following his ejection for fighting Wilson, Crinon was called into a meeting by the French Ice Hockey Federation (FFHG). His behavior during the match drew criticism, as he reportedly taunted both Wilson and the crowd while leaving the ice.

• FFHG President Pierre-Yves Gerbeau condemned Crinon’s conduct, stating it violated the Olympic spirit.
• The FFHG and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee agreed to suspend Crinon for the remainder of the tournament.

As it stands, France is scheduled to face Germany in an important playoff qualifying match, where Crinon will not participate.

Future Matches for Team Canada

Meanwhile, Tom Wilson is set to continue his Olympic journey with Team Canada. The team is preparing for a quarterfinal matchup against the winner of the Czechia versus Denmark qualifier on February 18.

In the wake of the altercation, Wilson received praise from his teammates and head coach Jon Cooper for standing up against Crinon, who had earlier delivered a questionable hit on Nathan MacKinnon during the game.

Moving forward, the impact of Crinon’s suspension on the French team’s performance will be closely monitored as they aim for success in this crucial round of the tournament.