Salt Lake City: Penguins Forward Ben Kindel Hospitalized After Medical Episode on Team Plane
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah: The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on October 20 that 19-year-old forward Ben Kindel experienced a medical episode aboard the team plane shortly after takeoff from Salt Lake City International Airport, and that the plane returned to the airport. Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC and the team's medical staff attended to Kindel immediately. An ambulance was waiting when the plane landed, and Kindel was taken to University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation.
"Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition," the team said in its statement. "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 cause of the medical episode has not been disclosed. The Penguins had just wrapped up a four-game Western road trip with a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City, and the team flew back to Pittsburgh later on Tuesday after the return landing. Kindel has played nine games this season, recording two goals and two assists for four points, and is one of the youngest players on the Penguins' roster.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 / Iansmh98（盐湖城市景）
- 2026-10-20Salt Lake City: Penguins Forward Ben Kindel Hospitalized After Medical Episode on Team PlaneThis story
- 2026-10-22Follow-up: Penguins forward Kindel back in Pittsburgh; fainting diagnosed as vasovagal episode, placed on injured reserve
- 2026-10-28Follow-Up: Penguins Forward Ben Kindel Returns to Practice a Week After In-Flight Medical Episode; Status for Oct. 29 vs. Utah Unclear
