Czech Player Apologizes to Canadian Star After Suspension Incident

Aneta Tejalarova, the captain of the Czech Republic, reached out to Canada’s Sara Fillier on Monday, expressing her regret over a hit that led to Tejalarova’s suspension from the PWHL earlier this season. This moment was captured in footage from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Following Canada’s 5-1 victory against the Czech Republic in the qualifying round, Tejalarova approached Fillier as she was getting ready for a postgame interview. NHL Network reporter Jackie Redmond shared some context about their interaction.

“I didn’t mean to do that… Are you okay?” Tejalarova said, as recounted by Redmond News Agency.

Fillier’s response was reassuring. “Oh no, I’m fine. Don’t worry… I’m (fine). Good luck the rest of the way,” she replied.

This exchange followed an incident where Tejalarova was suspended for two games after delivering a head check to Fillier during a game on December 28, 2025. The incident occurred in the first period of the Sirens’ 4-3 victory over Trent. Tejalarova was expelled from the game due to a major penalty and match misconduct.

Due to the hit, Fillier was unable to play in one subsequent game because of an injury. The PWHL Player Safety Committee ruled that Tejalarova’s action was a “sophisticated, forceful and predatory check,” emphasizing that hitting the opponent’s head was unnecessary.

The match on Monday between the Canadian and Czech women was notably physical, with significant impacts felt on both sides.

Notably, Canada’s captain, Marie-Philippe Poulin, along with Czech players Sara Kayanova and Barbora Yurikova, sustained injuries during the game. Poulin left early in the first period due to what appeared to be a lower-body injury, which will prevent her from participating in the upcoming game against the United States.