Throughout the first two games of the 2026 Olympics for Team Canada, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson registered one assist in both of his team's wins. He also had the unfortunate incident with Los Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala, where Fiala attempted a reverse hit on Wilson, and the Capitals' tough guy inadvertently landed on Fiala's leg cause an injury. There was no intent by Wilson in Friday's game.
On Sunday, Canada wrapped up preliminary round play against France with a chance to clinch their Pool and advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament beginning on Wednesday. Canada scored early and often enroute to a 10-2 rout to finish a perfect 3-0 in pool play. In the victory, Wilson had a big hand in it, but maybe not the way you would expect him to.
Capitals Tom Wilson records a Gordie Howe hat trick in Canada's rout of France
Wilson recorded a exteremly rare Olympic Gordie Howe Hat Trick. What is a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, you might ask? Well, it is when a player gets a goal, an assist, and a major penalty for fighting, all within one game. Leave it to Wilson to get one this year.
Wilson opened the scoring in the first period for Canada at the 8:41 mark with his first goal of the tournament. Twenty seconds into the third period and Canada leading 6-1, Wilson picked up the secondary assist on a Connor McDavid goal. Later in the third period, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon took a high hit from France's Pierre Crinon later in the period after he served his minor penalty for the hit. Wilson and Crinon dropped the gloves and fought, which requires an automatic game misconduct in the Olympics. All in a day's work for Wilson.
Canada coasted to another win at the Olympics and is the clear-cut favorite to win the Gold Medal. Wilson felt like the hit on MacKinnon was high and unnecessary, and took matters into his own hands. Whatever happens over the next week, Wilson has already left his mark on the 2026 Winter Olympics with more games still to come.