Olympic Incident Revives Past Legal Issues

Pierre Crinon’s on-ice altercation with Canada’s Tom Wilson at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics has triggered a separate legal issue in his home country of France. The French ice hockey federation suspended Crinon following the fight, but the incident has also prompted the Public Prosecutor of Grenoble to pursue charges related to a previous incident.

Prior Incident with Goaltender

The charges stem from an incident in November where Crinon allegedly punched Matt O’Connor, a former Ottawa Senators goaltender, resulting in an injury to O’Connor’s eye. A previous complaint filed by O’Connor had been dismissed, but the prosecutor reopened the case after viewing Crinon’s fight with Wilson.

“The newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré announces that the Public Prosecutor of Grenoble has decided to initiate proceedings against Pierre Crinon,”

RMC Sport

According to reports, O’Connor missed three days of work due to the injury, leading to a charge of intentional violence resulting in an ITT of less than eight days.

Potential Penalties

The French legal term ITT, or “Incapacité Totale de Travail,” refers to total incapacity for work. The potential penalty for the charge is a fine of up to 1,500 euros. More severe cases, involving eight or more days of lost work, could result in up to three years in prison and a 45,000 euro fine.

Olympic Suspension

Crinon was initially ejected from the game against Canada after delivering a forearm to Nathan MacKinnon, which prompted Wilson to engage with him. The ensuing fight led to game misconducts for both players under International Ice Hockey Federation rules. While the IIHF did not impose further punishment, the French federation suspended Crinon from the remainder of the Olympic tournament.

FAQ

• What prompted the legal charges against Pierre Crinon? The charges were filed after the Public Prosecutor of Grenoble reopened a case related to a prior incident where Crinon allegedly punched a goaltender.
• What was Pierre Crinon’s punishment from the French Ice Hockey Federation? He was suspended from the remainder of the Olympic tournament.
• What is the potential penalty for the charges against Crinon? A fine of up to 1,500 euros.