There seems to be some confusion at the moment regarding the rules of fighting in hockey at the Olympic Winter Games. On Sunday in the game between Canada and France, Pierre Crinon of France fought Tom Wilson of Canada.
This was the first Olympic hockey fight since 1998 according to the Rogers Sportsnet, and there was a belief by many that there would be supplementary discipline. Then the International Ice Hockey Federation made the surprise announcement that there would be no more further discipline against Crinon and Wilson, as they both received game misconducts for their fights.
Why the rule is confusing?
Many who are part of the hockey world have always been of the understanding that fighting was simply not part of Olympic hockey. What happens when there actually is a fight?
In what we found out, players are not banned from the tournament, they are just banned from one particular game.
Fight did not please French hockey
The president of the French Ice Hockey Federation, Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, was very dissatisfied with the fight. According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet, Gerbeau believed Crinon’s behaviour was “provocative” and stated the following about his participation in the fight:
“(It was) a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and also undermines the values of our sport.”
One needs to realize that France has a history of emphasizing the importance that the athletes prioritize the Olympic Spirit. That is because the founder of the International Olympic Committee was Pierre de Coubertin of France, who established the Olympic Oath.
Canada not disciplining Wilson
Prior to the start of the Olympic tournament, many including me, were surprised that Wilson made Team Canada at all because of his lack of discipline throughout his hockey career. He has been suspended on multiple occasions.
Wilson has 1610 penalty minutes in 885 games. There is a belief he made Team Canada to generate energy throughout the lineup, and is lucky that he was not suspended by the powers that be either.
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