- Ben Kindel took full contact at Penguins practice Tuesday
- He could return Thursday against the Mammoth
- Read below for what Kindel and Sidney Crosby said about the scare
Ben Kindel is back on the ice with the Penguins.
The 19-year-old forward practiced Tuesday for the first time since he lost consciousness on the team plane a week ago, and he took full contact for more than an hour. Kindel could play Thursday night against the Utah Mammoth at PPG Paints Arena.
Kindel was asked how he feels now that he’s through it.
“Felt pretty good,” Kindel said. “Was nice to be back out there with the guys. For me, it’s in the past now. It’s out of my head. Can’t control what happened. Just have to move forward.”
He was also asked about the incident itself. Kindel said he doesn’t have many more facts than the Penguins already shared, and he went out of his way to thank the people who helped him.
“Just really grateful for the Penguins staff, doctors, trainers, everybody who were so good, as well as the flight crew,” Kindel said.
Kindel fell unconscious for about 10 minutes shortly after the plane left Salt Lake City following the Oct. 19 loss to Utah. He was diagnosed with a vasovagal syncope, a common type of fainting, and the plane made an emergency landing. We covered what Kyle Dubas said about the episode last week.
Captain Sidney Crosby called Kindel’s return to practice a good sign. “I’m pretty sure things are progressing well if he’s back out with us,” Crosby said.
Kindel skated at center on the second line between Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov. Justin Brazeau, who hasn’t played this season because of a lower-body injury, was also a full participant.
Pittsburgh sits at 5-6-1 after an 0-4-0 road trip, and head coach Dan Muse is happy to have his young center around again. “It was great to have him back with us,” Muse said.
Kindel has four points in nine games this season and has been held off the scoresheet in his last six. A homestand against Utah could be the reset he’s looking for.
