NEED TO KNOW
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French hockey player Pierre Crinon has been suspended from the 2026 Winter Olympics
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After a fight with Canadian Tom Wilson, Crinon taunted fans on his way back to the locker room.
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Wilson’s teammates defended his participation in the fight and he was not suspended.
French hockey player Pierre Crinon has been suspended from the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after taunting fans in the stands following his involvement in a fight with another player.
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During France’s 10-2 loss to Canada on Sunday, February 15, Crinon and Canadian Tom Wilson became involved in a rare Olympic hockey fight after which they were both ejected from the game.
Fighting, while fairly common in the NHL, is not tolerated in the Olympics, but it was what Crinon did next that got him in trouble.
“Pierre Crinon’s provocative behavior when leaving the ice, even though he had just been excluded from the game for a fight, is a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and also undermines the values ​​of our sport,” the French Ice Hockey Federation said in a statement. “Therefore, the decision was made, in full coordination with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, not to authorize their participation in the next meeting(s) of the Olympic tournament.”
The fight occurred just after Crinon, 30, delivered a high blow to Team Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon. Wilson, 31, took issue with the interaction and chased Crinon, who then slammed him to the ice, according to The Athletic.
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The referees separated the two players and both were ejected from the game.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty
In a video shared on social media, when Crinon returned to the locker room, he gestured to the booing Canadian fans with his hands over his ears and cheered them on.
Crinon will miss the qualifying round match on Tuesday, February 17 against Germany.
Beyond his ejection, Wilson, who plays for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, was not penalized for his involvement in the fight and his teammates were not overly surprised by his actions.
“That’s exactly what Willy does,” Canadian Brandon Hagel said, according to The Athletic. “He defends his teammates. Obviously, we didn’t like what happened to Mac behind the net. That’s what you call a team. That’s why everyone praises and loves Tom Wilson, because that’s what he does.”
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For more information on all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit people.com for ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting February 6, on NBC and Peacock.
Read the original article on People