Switzerland’s Olympic campaign took a tough hit on Friday, both on the scoreboard and emotionally, after star forward Kevin Fiala went down with a serious injury during a 5-1 loss to powerhouse Team Canada. The Los Angeles Kings winger, a key piece of the Swiss offense, was injured in a collision with Canada’s Tom Wilson-an incident that left the arena silent and his teammates visibly shaken.
The play unfolded near the boards, where Fiala and Wilson became entangled in a physical battle. Wilson, known around the NHL for his rugged, high-contact style, didn’t appear to cross any lines this time.
There was no clear sign of intent or recklessness-just two elite players competing hard in a high-stakes game. But as both skaters went down, Wilson’s body came down awkwardly on top of Fiala, and the result was immediately concerning.
Fiala remained on the ice for several minutes, clearly in pain and unable to get up under his own power. Medical staff responded quickly, and after a tense delay, he was taken off the ice on a gurney. While he was able to move his upper body, his lower body remained motionless-a troubling sign for anyone watching, especially considering the physical demands of his position and the speed at which he plays.
Soon after the game, the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation confirmed what many feared: Fiala’s tournament is over. No timeline was offered beyond that, and while there’s no official word yet on how this will affect his return to the Kings, it’s safe to say more medical evaluations are on the horizon once he’s back in North America.
For Switzerland, the loss goes beyond the box score. Fiala isn’t just a top-line talent-he’s a tone-setter, a player who brings pace, creativity, and scoring punch every time he touches the puck. His absence leaves a massive hole in the Swiss lineup, and it’s a brutal blow to a team that’s already trying to keep pace with the likes of Canada.
Swiss head coach Patrick Fischer didn’t hide his emotion when speaking after the game. “Obviously, it doesn’t look very good,” Fischer said. “Tough, tough, tough moment for Kevin and the whole team, obviously.”
And he’s right. These are the kinds of moments that remind us how fragile the game can be. In a tournament filled with international pride, Olympic dreams, and fierce competition, one unfortunate fall can change the course of a team’s journey-and potentially a player’s season.
🩼 Kevin Fiala was injured in the second group game against Canada and will miss the rest of the Olympic tournament.
— Swiss Ice Hockey (@SwissIceHockey) February 14, 2026
❤️🩹 Kevin Fiala hat sich im zweiten Gruppenspiel gegen Kanada verletzt und fällt für den Rest des Olympia-Turniers aus.
👉🏼 https://t.co/GhGjETZm8b@LAKings pic.twitter.com/51hQXM9nnx
For now, all eyes will be on Fiala’s recovery. And for Switzerland, the road ahead just got a whole lot steeper.