When the debate first began in Canada on whether Tom Wilson would make the Olympic men’s hockey team, there was a clear incident that remained top of mind. The moment when the idea first germinated. The nine seconds that put Wilson’s name firmly in the conversation.
It happened on Feb. 15, 2025 in Montreal, when Canada’s Brandon Hagel, Sam Bennett and Colton Parayko fought, in order, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller of Team USA in the first nine seconds of a preliminary round game at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The argument against including Wilson was that there was no fighting at the Olympics.
Someone clearly forgot to tell Wilson.
Exactly one year after the three fights in nine seconds broke the internet and ramped up the intensity of a tournament most people were looking at as a gimmick, Wilson got into a fight with Pierre Crinon as retribution for a dirty hit the French defenseman laid on Nathan MacKinnon earlier in the third period.