Tom Wilson express regrets after Kevin Fiala stretchered off in Milan; Fiala undergoes surgery
Canada forward Tom Wilson said he felt “terrible” after a collision along the boards left Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala motionless on the ice late in a Group A Olympic game in Milan. Fiala was taken from the rink on a stretcher at 5: 10 p. m. ET and later underwent surgery; he will miss the rest of the Olympic tournament and will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the NHL season.
What happened on the ice
The sequence unfolded in the closing minutes of the third period. Wilson and Fiala became tangled up along the boards; both players fell and Fiala landed face down, not moving his lower body. Medical staff took extra precautions, placing him on a stretcher face down and transporting him to a local hospital. The play left players and fans visibly shaken — members of each bench tapped their sticks on the ice as a mark of respect while Fiala was attended to.
Wilson described the contact as an unfortunate, routine play. “It’s just unlucky, ” he said. “There was no intention, for sure. ” Teammates and opponents echoed that assessment on the ice, emphasizing that neither player appeared to be attempting a heavy hit in a lopsided game when the incident occurred.
Aftermath and reactions
Fiala’s teammates were distraught at the bench as he was removed. Switzerland’s coaching staff confirmed he had suffered a lower-leg injury and would not return to the tournament. Team members spoke of their concern for Fiala beyond the immediate competitive implications. “Tough, tough, tough moment for Kevin and the whole team, ” the coach said following the game.
Wilson, who has a history of delivering hard hits in his career, appeared shaken by the event. “I feel terrible that he may not be able to keep playing, ” he said, sending well-wishes to Fiala and his family. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who shares an NHL roster with Fiala, left the celebration of Canada’s win to check on his teammate. “We need that guy on my team back home, big-time, ” he said, adding that he planned to go see Fiala at the hospital.
Switzerland captain Roman Josi described the moment as emotional and voiced hope for a speedy recovery. Nico Hischier, another Swiss forward, noted there appeared to be no malicious intent and called the play “an unfortunate play” that sadly happens in the sport.
Implications for the Kings and the Olympic debate
Fiala, a key offensive contributor for his NHL club this season, posted 40 points in 56 regular-season games before the Olympic break. With surgery completed, his status for the remainder of the NHL campaign is uncertain but looks bleak; team officials expect he will likely miss the rest of the season. The injury revives familiar concerns about the risks players take when competing in international tournaments midseason, especially given the potential long-term impact on NHL rosters.
Players have long expressed that the chance to represent their countries at the Olympics outweighs the risks, but incidents like this underscore the tough trade-offs. For now, attention turns to Fiala’s recovery and the broader ripple effects for both his national squad and his NHL team as they regroup without one of their top contributors.
