‘He’s still with us’: Switzerland rallies around injured Kevin Fiala to beat Czechia

Some inspiration from a fallen warrior carried a team to an important victory.

According to Switzerland forward Nico Hischier, injured teammate Kevin Fiala sent his team a “really emotional” video message prior to the Swiss’ Group A finale at the 2026 Winter Olympics against Czechia on Sunday.

“He’s still with us,” Hischier told the media after the game. “We’ll play for him… He’s one of our best players, so it’s obviously a tough loss for us. He’s still engaged with us, and he’ll cheer us on.”

The message worked. Powered by a great goaltender Leonardo Genoni and Dean Kukan’s goal in overtime, Switzerland came away with a 4-3 victory, securing second place in the group and a bye to the quarterfinals later this week. Hischier picked up an assist on Timo Meier’s goal late in the second period, his first point in Milan.

It was Switzerland’s first game since Fiala suffered a scary leg injury in the waning minutes of Friday’s game against Canada. He was being checked by Canadian forward Tom Wilson when the two players’ legs tangled up, with Wilson awkwardly falling onto Fiala’s leg as a result.

The Los Angeles Kings winger was stretchered off the ice, and later underwent surgery in Milan that effectively ended his NHL season as well.

Fiala had picked up an assist in the Swiss’ 4-0 win over France on Thursday. He was expected to be a key part of an experienced group that could at least make it to the quarterfinals, if not sneak into the semifinals.

There’s hope that he will be able to join Switzerland before the end of the Olympics. Switzerland awaits to find out who they will be playing in the quarterfinals, which are set for Wednesday in Milan.