Switzerland forward Kevin Fiala out of Olympics because of a leg injury

Audio By Carbonatix

MILAN (AP) — Switzerland forward Kevin Fiala is out for the rest of the Milan Cortina Olympics after undergoing surgery on his injured left leg.

Fiala was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in Switzerland's game against Canada on Friday. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation on Saturday called it a lower leg injury that was ending his time at the Games, and a spokesperson confirmed that Fiala had surgery.

Neither Switzerland nor the Los Angeles Kings would confirm exactly what the operation was or that it is likely to end his season in the NHL, as well.

“Very obviously sad, and it sucks for him and for us,” Kings teammate Adrian Kempe said after Sweden's game against Slovakia. “It’s really tough for him personally and for us as a team. You know how much he means to our team back home in L.A . It’s just very unfortunate for him that it comes in a tournament like this that we’ve been looking forward to playing in for so long. I feel for him.”

The 29-year-old winger went down when he collided with Tom Wilson with just under three minutes left in Canada's 5-1 victory.

Fiala backed into a hit on Wilson near the boards, their legs got tangled up and both players fell to the ice. Fiala couldn't get up and after a stoppage in play medical personnel attended to him.

“Just unlucky,” Wilson said after the game. "He’s a competitor, obviously. At this point, it’s the Olympic Games, and I feel terrible that he may not be able to keep playing and just sending his family and him my best. You never want to see a guy go down in a tournament like this, especially. It sucks for the country, for their team, and just wishing him a quick recovery.”

Fiala was placed face down on a stretcher, and his left leg appeared to be in an air cast as he was wheeled out.

“Tough moment for Kevin and the whole team, obviously,” Switzerland coach Patrick Fischer said.

No penalty was assessed on the play.

“It was an accident,” Fischer said.

Fiala is in his 12th NHL season and fourth with the Kings. He has 40 points in 56 games this season.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics