Tom Wilson achieved a feat probably once thought impossible at an Olympic hockey tournament: a Gordie Howe hat trick.

Wilson, playing in his third game for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, scored Sunday’s opening goal against France, assisted on a later Connor McDavid strike, and dropped his gloves with French defender Pierre Crinon.

Wilson and Crinon were assessed two-minute roughing minor penalties, five-minute major penalties, and ejected from the game. Fighting is prohibited in Olympic play, hence why the two received game misconducts. The bout was the first recorded at the Olympics since 1998.

Tom Wilson’s goal

The goal was Wilson’s first at the tournament and first in his Olympic career. After the two sides played the first eight minutes of the first period scoreless, Wilson struck at the 8:41 mark of the frame to start what would turn out to be a 10-goal outing from the Canadians.

Wilson created the goal by showing off his forechecking excellence behind France’s net, sealing off a defender and kicking the puck back to defenseman Drew Doughty at the point. After Doughty’s shot cannoned off goaltender Julian Junca’s pads, Wilson beat another French defender to the loose puck and buried the rebound.

Tom Wilson’s assist

Wilson grabbed his assist on McDavid’s goal, the seventh in the game from the Canadians. He now has two assists at the tournament after notching a first against Switzerland.

Early in the third period, Wilson filtered a loose puck to a hard-charging McDavid, who played a give-and-go with Macklin Celebrini. McDavid eventually broke in alone on Capitals goaltending prospect Antoine Keller and finished behind the French netminder.

Tom Wilson’s fight

Wilson dropped his gloves with Crinon in response to the latter nailing Nathan MacKinnon in the head with a hit minutes prior. The high hit was reviewed, but Crinon only received a two-minute minor penalty for interference.

After Wilson hit Crinon hard behind France’s net during an ensuing shift, the defender responded by throwing a shot to the back of Wilson’s helmet. Crinon then pulled Wilson to the ice, which infuriated the big winger, and caused him to get up and charge at Crinon before the on-ice officials could separate the two players.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the fighting major assessed to Wilson will not result in an automatic one-game suspension, and Wilson will be eligible to play in the quarterfinals. The IIHF could have imposed further supplemental discipline if it had wished to do so, but it is not automatic under the 2025-26 rulebook.

Wilson came into the Olympics with three NHL Gordie Howe hat tricks to his credit, including one this season on the same day that he was named to Team Canada’s Olympic team. Wilson scored his 20th goal of the year, assisted on a Justin Sourdif empty-net marker, and fought New York Rangers forward Sam Carrick on New Year’s Eve.

With the win, Team Canada is likely through to the quarterfinals as the tournament’s top seed. They’ll play next on February 18 against an opponent yet to be determined.