Kevin Fiala’s Olympic Run Cut Short After Lower Leg Injury vs. Canada
Less than two games into the 2026 Winter Olympics, Team Switzerland has suffered a major blow - and so has the Los Angeles Kings. Star forward Kevin Fiala went down late in Friday’s group-stage matchup against Canada after a collision along the boards with Canadian winger Tom Wilson. The moment was jarring: Fiala crumpled to the ice in visible pain and had to be stretchered off, drawing immediate concern from teammates, opponents, and fans alike.
The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has since confirmed that Fiala sustained a lower leg injury and will miss the remainder of the tournament. While the exact nature of the injury hasn’t been disclosed, the visual alone was enough to raise red flags - especially for those familiar with Fiala’s injury history.
This isn’t the first time Fiala has faced a serious setback. Back in April 2017, as a rookie with the Nashville Predators, he suffered a fractured femur during a playoff game against the St.
Louis Blues - an injury that required emergency surgery and ended his postseason prematurely. That kind of trauma isn’t easy to come back from, but Fiala did just that, carving out a dynamic NHL career highlighted by speed, creativity, and a knack for playmaking.
That’s what makes this latest injury sting even more - not just for Switzerland’s Olympic hopes, but for the Kings as well. Fiala has been a key offensive driver for L.A., and his absence will be felt on both sides of the Atlantic.
Kings teammate Drew Doughty, who’s also representing Canada in the tournament, was visibly shaken as Fiala was helped off the ice. After the game, Doughty spoke to reporters and made it clear just how much his teammate means to him - and to their NHL club.
“Tough to see,” Doughty said. “Hopefully he’s gonna be fine quick.
We need that guy on my team back home, big-time. That’s not something I wanted, obviously, to happen.
Gonna go find him right now and see how he’s doing.”
Doughty’s reaction speaks volumes. This isn’t just about Olympic competition - it’s about a teammate, a friend, and a vital cog in the Kings’ lineup going down in a high-stakes international game.
Injuries are part of the game, especially in a high-contact, high-speed sport like hockey. But when they happen on this kind of stage, with the world watching, the impact resonates even more.
For Switzerland, Fiala’s loss is a massive one. He’s one of their most skilled and experienced players, capable of shifting momentum with a single rush or threading the needle with a pinpoint pass. Without him, the Swiss will have to regroup quickly as they continue their Olympic campaign.
For the Kings, the focus now shifts to Fiala’s recovery timeline and what this could mean for the second half of their NHL season. There’s still a lot we don’t know - and won’t know - until further updates are released. But for now, one of the game’s most electrifying forwards is sidelined once again, and both Switzerland and Los Angeles are left hoping it’s not for long.