Late for the World Cup
Ice hockey star suffers severe stroke of fate
14.05.2025 – 12:51 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Kevin Fiala celebrated his tournament debut in the 3-0 win of the Swiss. He had missed the first two games – for tragic reasons.
In the third group game in Switzerland against the USA, Kevin Fiala was on the ice for the first time at this World Cup. The NHL professional from the Los Angeles Kings had missed the first two games-for a very personal reason.
After the Swiss’s 3-0 win, Fiala explained why he had joined the team late. “My wife Jessica was pregnant for the second time, but lost the child,” said Fiala visibly moved. Despite the difficult moment, she encouraged him to travel to the national team. Together with her little daughter, she accompanied him to the tournament.
Fiala spoke openly about the past few days: “It was not easy for the past week.” He said about his partner: “As always, she supports me, I am incredibly grateful, she is simply the best woman. If you are there, I feel at home. That’s why I have performed today.”
Fiala and Jessica Ljung had said yes in 2022 in Minneapolis in the US state of Minnesota. Later in the year they celebrated their wedding in Spain. With the birth of her daughter, her happiness became complete.