NEED TO KNOW
- Ben Kindel, 19, was hospitalized after experiencing a medical emergency aboard the Pittsburgh Penguins’ team plane, the team said on Tuesday, Oct. 20
- The plane returned to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff, and Kindel was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital
- The Penguins said Kindel was conscious, alert and in stable condition
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was hospitalized after experiencing a medical emergency aboard the team’s plane, prompting the aircraft to return to the airport shortly after takeoff.
The team’s plane returned to Salt Lake City International Airport after the 19-year-old hockey player experienced a medical episode, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced in a Tuesday, Oct. 20, statement shared on X. Kindel was then taken by ambulance to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation, according to the team.
Kindel was conscious and alert following the incident and was in stable condition, the Penguins wrote. The team was leaving Salt Lake City after a 5-4 loss against the Utah Mammoth.
A statement from the Pittsburgh Penguins pic.twitter.com/fyFReh2BWL
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 20, 2026
The team’s medical staff was able to respond immediately because team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was also aboard the plane, according to the statement.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins team plane returned to the Salt Lake City International Airport today shortly after takeoff due to a medical episode involving forward Ben Kindel,” the team wrote in its announcement. “Team physician, Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC, as well as the team’s medical staff were on board and immediately attended to Ben.”
An ambulance was waiting at the airport when the plane returned, and Kindel was transported to the hospital for additional evaluation, the Penguins shared.
The team also addressed the importance of protecting its players’ well-being and their families’ privacy as Kindel receives medical attention.
“The health and safety of our players, as well as the privacy for their families, are our top priority,” the Penguins said, adding that they would provide further updates when appropriate.
Kindel is in his second season with Pittsburgh after playing 77 games as a rookie last year.
Credit: Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty
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The Penguins’ next scheduled matchup is against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, Oct. 22. The game is set to take place at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
The team has not shared further details about Kindel’s medical episode or provided additional information about his condition beyond confirming that he was conscious, alert and stable.
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