- Penguins plane returned to Salt Lake City after a medical episode involving Ben Kindel
- Kindel is conscious, alert and in stable condition at University of Utah Hospital
- Read below for the team statement and what comes next for Pittsburgh
The Penguins had to turn their plane around Tuesday because of a medical emergency involving Ben Kindel.
The team said its flight out of Salt Lake City returned to the airport shortly after takeoff. Kindel is conscious, alert and in stable condition at University of Utah Hospital.
Here’s the statement from the Penguins:
Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC and the rest of the medical staff were on board and attended to Kindel right away. An ambulance met the plane on the ground and took the 19-year-old forward to the hospital for further evaluation.
The Penguins closed their statement by asking for privacy and promising more information later.
“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.”
We passed the news along on our own timeline as it came in:
Pittsburgh was wrapping up a four-game western road trip and was flying home after a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday night. Kindel played 18:53 in that game, second among Penguins forwards behind Rickard Rakell, and finished with a shot on goal, a blocked shot and a hit.
He has four points (two goals, two assists) in nine of Pittsburgh’s first 10 games this season. Kindel is in his second year with the team after scoring 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games as a rookie.
Kindel was also on the Penguins injury list in September, before the season started.
The Penguins are 3-6-1 and are scheduled to host the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday. There is no word yet on when Kindel will be released from the hospital or whether he will be available for that game.
