Tom Wilson. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Why IIHF made the wrong call in not suspending Team Canada's Tom Wilson after fight at Olympics

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 4:07 PM ET

It didn't take long for Washington Capitals right winger Tom Wilson to lose his temper at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Playing for Team Canada at the Winter Games, Wilson was ejected for fighting in a 10-2 win over Team France in the preliminary round of Group A on Sunday. In what seemed to be an act of retaliation, he dropped his gloves with defenseman Pierre Crinon, who had decked Canadian center Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) minutes earlier.

Unlike the NHL — where players are typically sent to the penalty box — fighting in the Olympics results in an automatic expulsion. Full-scale brawls would be unsportsmanlike on the world's biggest sporting stage. With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if Olympic hockey's governing body, the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation), sought further punishment. However, it's not doing that.

Tom Wilson won't face suspension, but that's a questionable choice

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported neither Wilson nor Crinon will serve a one-game suspension. This allows Wilson to play in the quarterfinals, where Canada will likely face Germany, Latvia or Czechia.

Tom Wilson has been EJECTED for fighting at the Olympics pic.twitter.com/LgqUk1aijj
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 15, 2026

There will be no further discipline for Tom Wilson or Pierre Crinon

Crinon clear for qualifying round

Wilson clear for quarterfinal https://t.co/N3Jqx0GGUy
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 15, 2026

But shouldn't the IIHF send a message to Wilson and others? The Olympic rulebook says fighting isn't "part of international hockey's DNA."

Wilson, though, has already ignored that, and he has already delivered a brutal hit that injured another player. The winger slammed Team Switzerland left winger Kevin Fiala (Los Angeles Kings) into the boards during a 5-1 Canadian win on Friday. Fiala had to be removed from the ice on a stretcher.

Fiala was ruled out for the rest of the Winter Games with a lower leg injury. ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported it will likely end his NHL season as well.

Fighting, of course, is commonplace in hockey, and Sunday's incident between Wilson and Crinon was a mere scuffle. However, it's the IIHF's job to ensure that things don't escalate out of control during the tournament.

Just as importantly, it's taking a big risk in hoping Wilson — who leads active NHL players in penalty box minutes (1,610), per StatMuse — can control his temper for the rest of the Olympics. If he has another incident, it falls on the governing body for failing to enforce the rules.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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