The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Tuesday that their team plane had to return to its departure airport after a medical episode involving forward Ben Kindel. According to The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, Kindel had a seizure moments after the plane departed for Pittsburgh.
The Penguins had been in Salt Lake City to play the Utah Mammoth on Monday night. They landed back at Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff.
In a statement, the Penguins said team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and the team’s medical staff were on board and immediately attended to the 19-year-old Kindel, who is conscious and stable after the incident.
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. 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 upon arrival, and he was taken to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation. Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition.
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.
An ambulance was waiting when the plane returned to Salt Lake City and took Kindel to the University of Utah Hospital. Several members of Pittsburgh’s front office, coaching staff, and medical staff have stayed with Kindel in Utah. The rest of the team is scheduled to head back home shortly.
Kindel is in his second season with the Penguins after posting 35 points (17g, 18a) in 77 games as an 18-year-old rookie last year. He played 18:52 of ice time against the Mammoth on Monday, recording one shot on goal, one hit, and one shot block.
The incident comes just over a week after another Pennsylvania sports star, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, flew to London, England, for a game with a blood clot in his calf that traveled up to both of his lungs. The Eagles have come under fire for having Hurts fly and play a full game with the ailment that will now see him miss the rest of their season.
