Photo credit: Geoff Burke – Imagn Images.
A decision has been made on forward Tom Wilson’s availability for Canada’s quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday after being ejected on Sunday against France.
The Preliminary Round at the 2026 Winter Olympics came to a close on Sunday in Milan, Italy, with Team Canada taking on France with an opportunity to clinch top spot for the duration of the tournament.
Canada would go on to take a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes, a 6-1 lead after 40 and defeated France by a final score of 10-2 and thanks to the United States only defeating Germany by four goals, Jon Cooper’s group clinched top spot and will face the winner of Czechia vs Denmark in the quarterfinals.
Decision made on Tom Wilson’s availability for quarterfinals after being ejected on Sunday
In the third period, Team Canada forward Tom Wilson got into it with French defenseman Pierre Crinon after the latter hit Nathan MacKinnon in the head earlier the game.
While no actual punches were thrown, both Wilson and Crinon dropped the gloves and tried to get at each other before the officials got in the way, escorting them to the penalty box and eventually ejecting them from the game.
Per IIHF rules, fighting is not allowed at any of their events, whether it be the World Championship, World Juniors, Women’s World Championship or the Olympics and if two players drop the mitts, they both will be handed game misconducts on top of their five minute majors.
“The fighting major assessed to Tom Wilson is not an automatic 1-game suspension.
Further supplemental discipline could be imposed if the IIHF wished to do so, but it is not automatic as per the 2025-26 rulebook.” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said.
It didn’t take too long for the IIHF’s Disciplinary Panel to make their decision on Tom Wilson as according to Elliotte Friedman, the Washington Capitals forward will be able to suit up for Canada in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
“There will be no further discipline for Tom Wilson or Pierre Crinon
Crinon clear for qualifying round
Wilson clear for quarterfinal” Friedman shared.
On the other side, Pierre Crinon, who has been a bit of a hot head at times in France’s top league, Ligue Mangus, this season and was suspended for seven games for punching an opposing goaltender, he’s set to have a meeting with the President of the French Ice Hockey Association on Monday to discuss his actions and “attitude” during Sunday’s loss.
Wilson and Canada now await the winner of Czechia and Denmark, who play in the qualification play-off round on Tuesday. Canada will play their quarterfinal game on Wednesday at 7:40 am PT (4:40 pm local).
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Decision made on Tom Wilson’s availability for Canada’s quarterfinal game after being ejected on Sunday
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