Switzerland forward Kevin Fiala had to be stretchered off the ice late in Friday’s game against Canada at the Winter Olympics.
Fiala went down along the boards in the Canadian end with 2:50 remaining in the third period after getting his legs tangled up with Tom Wilson. It appeared that Wilson landed on Fiala’s left leg.
The Los Angeles Kings winger stayed down as play was called dead and training staff were brought onto the ice. The 29-year-old was placed on a stretcher on his stomach and taken off the ice as both teams came off their benches to support Fiala as he left the game.
Swiss head coach Patrick Fischer told reporters after the game that Fiala was taken to hospital, but had no further update on his status.
Fiala had logged 20:04 of ice time in what ended as a 5-1 Swiss loss to the Canadians. In Switzerland’s tournament-opening 4-0 win over France on Thursday, Fiala recorded an assist for his first career Olympic point.
Switzerland returns to the ice on Sunday against Group A opponent Czechia.
A native of St. Gallen, Fiala has been a consistent presence on Switzerland’s national teams throughout his career. The 11th-overall pick in the 2014 draft, Fiala has suited up for his country at the World Championships on seven separate occasions.
Fiala’s NHL team in Los Angeles will undoubtedly be tracking his status closely, as the Kings currently sit three points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
In 56 games for the Kings this season, Fiala has 18 goals and 22 assists — tracking for his seventh consecutive campaign with 20 or more goals.
