Penguins’ Ben Kindel hospitalized after ‘medical episode’ on plane

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that the team’s flight from Utah had to return to Salt Lake City International Airport, following a ‘medical episode’ involving forward Ben Kindel.

According to the release, team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and the rest of the team’s medical staff treated Kindel. When the Penguins landed, an ambulance was on the scene to take Kindel to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation.

“Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition,” the statement read. “The health and safety of our players, as well as the privacy for their families, are our top priority. The team will provide further updates when appropriate.”

The Penguins were flying back home after wrapping up their four-game Western Conference road trip on Monday night, having lost 5-4 to the Utah Mammoth. Kindel was in the lineup, but didn’t register a point. He logged 18:53 of ice time, second among Pittsburgh forwards, only behind Rickard Rakell. Kindel put a shot on goal, blocked a shot, and delivered a hit in the losing effort.

Kindel has appeared in nine of the Penguins’ first 10 games of the 2026-27 season, having scored two goals and two assists for four points thus far, but has gone pointless in six straight contests. He has a plus/minus of -5 while averaging 17:19 of ice time per game.

The 19-year-old is coming off a promising rookie campaign, where he notched 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 77 games, helping Pittsburgh finish second in the Metropolitan Division. He was held off the scoresheet in the team’s six-game opening-round series, which saw them fall to the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

The Penguins (3-6-1) return home on Thursday night to face the Florida Panthers.