Some of the players on the French men’s hockey team don’t exactly agree with how their country responded to the first Olympic fight since 1998.
The French Ice Hockey Federation banned Pierre Crinon on Monday from competing in the rest of the Olympics, citing “provocative behaviour” as he left the Milano Santagiulia Ice Arena after his brawl with Canada’s Tom Wilson on Sunday.
A couple of players on the French team are upset with the suspension decision, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday.
Goaltender Antoine Keller, who played the last period of France’s 10-2 loss to Canada, called the suspension a joke, Friedman reported.
Defenceman Hugo Gallet said Crinon didn’t deserve the repercussions and that the French federation was “biased by something that happened before.”
Crinon plays in the top division of French hockey, the Ligue Magnus, and earlier this year was suspended for seven games after he punched a maskless goalie multiple times, injuring the goalie’s eye.
France lost 5-1 against Germany on Tuesday morning in the men’s qualification playoff, ending its Olympic tournament.
