[REVISION HISTORY]

Pittsburgh Penguins player Ben Kindel medical emergency

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-22 20:43 UTC → 2026-10-27 16:58 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel began the season by scoring in his debut against Montreal following a return from a lower-body injury. On October 20, Kindel was hospitalized in Salt Lake City after experiencing a medical emergency while aboard the team plane during a flight home from a road trip. The aircraft was forced to return to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff. Team medical staff attended to the 19-year-old mid-flight, and he was subsequently transported by ambulance to University of Utah Hospital. The Penguins confirmed that Kindel is “conscious, alert, and in stable condition,” though the specific nature of the medical issue remains undisclosed. General Manager Kyle Dubas later confirmed that Kindel suffered a vasovagal episode, a condition characterized by a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that causes fainting. Kindel was administered oxygen on the aircraft before being evaluated at the hospital. Kindel has since been cleared to travel and has returned to Pittsburgh for further medical testing. The Penguins have placed him on injured reserve as a precaution, though Dubas expressed hope that Kindel could return to team practices as early as next week. Following his return to Pittsburgh and subsequent medical evaluations, Kindel has successfully returned to team practice.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.