Team France Lays the Hammer Down on one of their Own Players
Photo credit: David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images
It was not a fun night for Team France against Team Canada yesterday, losing 10-2, but what is even worse, is toward the end of the game Tom Wilson and Pierre Crinon got into an altercation, in which both players were thrown out, but no supplementary discipline was given by the Olympic committee.
However France has now banned Crinon for his behaviour despite not getting any further punishment from the tournament.
Pierre Crinon gets sent packing by his own team.
Arpon Basu posted the news on X, it's a bizarre situation since the board didn't feel it necessary to award additional punishment, but France does not approve of its players engaging in physical fights like what we saw during the game.
Crinon, the guy who fought Tom Wilson against Canada, has been banned for the rest of the Olympics by his own national hockey federation.
It was already mentioned earlier today just how effective Wilson is, despite the game being well out of reach, he made a statement stepping up for Nathan MacKinnon, and it ended up with a player being suspended for the rest of the tournament. He's the type of guy you love to have on your team, but hate to play against.
This act could also point towards why the European game has yet to catch up with the North American teams. There is a lack of physicality with European countries, and their leagues, and often players who come from Europe over to North American to play in the NHL have a reputation for being soft, and more skilled players, before anyone even sees them play.
It's a big reason why Canada and the USA are so far ahead of every country at the senior level. Just this tournament we have seen the most skilled player in the world Connor McDavid not afraid to lay the body, and has delivered a few big hits this tournament. But one fight for Crinon and he is kicked off the team.
Until the European game becomes more physical, they will continue to struggle at the international level.
Also read on Blade of steel :
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 16|349 ANSWERS Team France Lays the Hammer Down on one of their Own Players Should Team France have banned Pierre Crinon for his actions against Tom Wilson? | ||
| Yes | 136 | 39 % |
| No | 213 | 61 % |
| List of polls | ||