Penguins forward Ben Kindel hospitalized in Utah after having medical emergency on team flight
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was being evaluated at a Salt Lake City hospital Tuesday after having a medical emergency on the team's flight home from a four-game trip.
The club said the 19-year-old Kindel had an unspecified issue shortly after the team's plane took off from the Salt Lake City airport Tuesday.
The plane returned to the airport while Kindel was tended to on the flight by the team's medical staff. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Utah hospital.
The team said Kindel was conscious, alert and stable.
Kindel, in his second season with the Penguins after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 draft, has two goals and two assists in nine games. He played 18 minutes, 53 seconds in Monday’s 5-4 loss to Utah.
Clayton Keller, Kevin Stenlund, Nate Schmidt and Nick Schmaltz all tallied a goal and an assist to help the Mammoth beat the Penguins.
Erik Karlsson, Richard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov, and Declan Carlile each scored for Pittsburgh. Bryan Rust assisted on two goals. Arturs Silovs tallied 24 saves.
