Swiss star Kevin Fiala is out of the rest of the Olympic tournament after a late-game hit with Tom Wilson went wrong.
With 2:50 remaining in the third period, Fiala attempted to throw a counter hit on Wilson as the Team Canada forward engaged him at the boards. An awkward collision followed, causing both players to tumble hard to the ice, with Wilson’s full weight landing on Fiala’s left leg.
The injury appeared serious immediately, as Swiss players urgently called over trainers and medical personnel to attend to Fiala as he writhed in pain, unable to get up. Eventually, a stretcher was brought out, and Fiala was wheeled off the ice, lying on his stomach.
Fiala’s unfortunate injury was especially wrenching for Wilson, who was not looking to deliver a big hit so late in the game and with Canada holding a 5-1 lead.
“It’s the Olympic Games and I feel terrible that he may not be able to keep playing,” Wilson said to The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus. “Just sending his family and him my best. You never want to see a guy go down, in a tournament like this, especially.”
Swiss star and Devils forward Nico Hischier said that Swiss players put no blame on Wilson for what happened.
“It’s an unfortunate play,” Hischier said per The Hockey News. “He got tangled up there and fell, twisted his leg, but there’s no intention for sure. It’s just an unfortunate play.
“Stuff like that is hard to watch, honestly,” he added. “Kevin’s a big part of our group, and in hockey, stuff like that happens… I hope it’s better than it looked like, but we wish Kevin the best.”
Every Canadian player skated off the bench to wish Fiala well before he was taken off the ice, including Los Angeles Kings teammate Drew Doughty, who appeared especially concerned.
“I, like, wanted to (go) over there when he was laying on the ground,” Doughty said after the game per NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika. “I just said something to him going off the ice, and I’m going to go find him as fast as I can right now.”
Swiss coach Patrick Fischer told reporters afterward, per Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, that Fiala was taken to the hospital. Hours later, the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation announced the unfortunate news that Fiala would be out for the rest of the Olympics.
“Kevin Fiala had to leave the ice due to injury three minutes before the end of the game,” the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation said in a release, per Google Translate. “Medical examinations revealed a lower leg injury that rules him out of the 2026 Olympic Games.
“We wish Kevin Fiala a good and speedy recovery.”
Not only is losing Fiala a huge blow to a Swiss team trying to medal, but a longterm injury could have major ramifications for a Los Angeles Kings team who is sitting three points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Fiala has 40 points (18g, 22a) in 56 games — third-most on LA. Making the timing even worse, the Kings traded for superstar Artemi Panarin ahead of the Olympic break in an attempt to buoy the team for a late-season push to make the playoffs.
“Obviously hurts (to lose him),” Timo Meier said. “Let’s hope it’s nothing too bad. Didn’t look great. Yeah, it sucks.”
