Grenoble Métropole Hockey 38 defenseman Pierre Crinon is facing another lengthy suspension, this time an eight-game ban, after an incident during a Ligue Magnus playoff game against Briançon on Saturday. The suspension comes less than a month after Crinon was sanctioned by the French Ice Hockey Federation following a brawl during the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting a pattern of aggressive play that is drawing increasing scrutiny.
The Ligue Magnus disciplinary commission reviewed footage of the incident, which occurred during the second quarterfinal playoff match between Grenoble and Briançon. The commission determined that Crinon delivered a forceful shoulder check to an opponent after the play had been whistled dead. He then reportedly directed threatening gestures toward the Briançon bench, further escalating the situation.
“The gesture was made after the whistle. Crinon then pointed towards the Briançon bench in a threatening manner,” the commission stated, as reported by Le Parisien. “Crinon has already been suspended this season following two infractions. These new infractions demonstrate that the player has not realized the dangerousness of his behavior on the ice.”
This isn’t the first time Crinon’s conduct has landed him in hot water. On November 30, 2025, the French player was involved in a heated altercation with the Ducs d’Angers. During the melee, Crinon reportedly struck Angers goaltender Matthew O’Connor multiple times, resulting in 13 stitches and a concussion for O’Connor. That incident led to a seven-game suspension.
The previous suspension played a role in the disciplinary action taken by the French Ice Hockey Federation during the Winter Olympics in February 2026. Crinon was suspended for the remainder of the tournament after initiating a brawl during a game against Canada, a match France lost 10-2. Crinon publicly criticized the Olympic suspension, calling it a “betrayal.”
Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, the president of the French Ice Hockey Federation, addressed the issue of on-ice violence following the Olympic incident. “At the federation, we no longer want fights, that’s extremely clear,” Gerbeau told RMC Sport. “We are a physical sport, a sport with an important physical dimension, but we are not a violent sport. If you want fighting, go watch MMA, that’s not our thing.”
Crinon, born August 2, 1995, in Reims, France, has had a varied professional hockey career. He began playing with the Flammes Bleues de Reims before joining the Diables Rouges de Briançon as a junior. He then spent time with the Ducs de Dijon before venturing to North America, playing for the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) and the Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL). He returned to France and played for the Rapaces de Gap, Dragons de Rouen, and most recently, the Bruleurs de Loups of Grenoble in 2022.
The repeated suspensions raise questions about Crinon’s future in the league and the effectiveness of current disciplinary measures. Whereas physicality is an inherent part of hockey, the league is clearly signaling a zero-tolerance policy for actions deemed excessively violent or dangerous. The eight-game suspension is a significant penalty, and it remains to be seen whether it will deter Crinon from future infractions.
For Grenoble, the loss of Crinon for eight games is a blow to their playoff hopes. The team will necessitate to rely on other defensemen to step up in his absence as they continue their pursuit of the Ligue Magnus championship. The incident also casts a shadow over the playoff series against Briançon, adding another layer of intensity to an already competitive matchup.
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