Two players from the Los Angeles Kings, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala, have been named to the preliminary rosters for their respective national teams for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Kempe, a forward for Team Sweden, and Fiala, representing Team Switzerland, were among the six players announced by each participating nation for this prestigious event.
This selection marks a significant milestone for Fiala, as it will be his first appearance in an Olympic competition. Fiala has previously showcased his talent at the IIHF World Championships, garnering three silver medals and earning the MVP title during the 2024 tournament. Notably, he expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to represent Switzerland at the Olympics, a platform that unites the best hockey talents from around the world. “For me, it would be my first time going, so very happy, very exciting to represent my country to play in the Olympics. That’s a dream come true,” Fiala shared earlier this year.
Adrian Kempe, on the other hand, will be participating in his second best-on-best international event. He represented Sweden at a recent 4 Nations Faceoff, scoring a goal against Canada. Despite Sweden’s overall performance in that tournament, Kempe felt the experience of competing alongside elite players in high-paced, physical games was invaluable. Reflecting on the tournament, he said, “Fun, good experience. Hard to know what to expect… it was a fun tournament to play in.”
The Olympic tournament is set to kick off on February 11, leading up to the gold medal match on February 22, during which the NHL will pause its regular season to allow its players to represent their countries. Both Fiala and Kempe will have the chance to shine in front of a global audience as they compete in their respective groups, intensifying their anticipation for this remarkable event.
This year’s Olympic Games promise to showcase exciting hockey and highlight the incredible talents of players hailing from various nations, inspiring fans worldwide.