The Swiss men’s hockey team faced a significant loss on Friday, but it seems the issues go deeper than just the scoreline.
Kevin Fiala, a forward for Switzerland, was taken off the ice on a stretcher and sent to a local hospital following a serious collision during the third period of a 5-1 defeat to Team Canada in an Olympic qualifier.
With roughly three minutes left in the game, Fiala attempted to play the puck along the boards when he was hit by Tom Wilson, a forward on the opposing team, leading both players to crash to the ice.
While Wilson got up immediately, Fiala remained down, his head resting on the ice.
Medical staff eventually arrived and carried Fiala off on a stretcher for further examination.
Switzerland’s coach, Patrick Fischer, stated he was unaware of the injury’s severity but expressed concern. “I haven’t seen him yet. I think he went to the hospital. Obviously, he’s not looking very well. It’s a tough moment for Kevin and for the whole team,” he said.
Wilson, who is known for his physical style of play, stated that there was no intent behind the incident. “It’s the Olympics, and I’m really disappointed that he might not be able to keep playing. You never want to see a player go down—especially in a tournament like this. It impacts the country and the team. I just hope he recovers quickly.”
Fischer echoed that it was merely an “accident.”
If Fiala, who has scored 18 goals and provided 22 assists for the NHL’s Kings this season, is unable to play, it will be a significant loss for the Swiss squad, which currently stands at 1-1 in the opening round. Their next matchup is scheduled against the Czech Republic on Sunday.
