Pittsburgh Penguins star Ben Kindel was rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical emergency that forced a team flight to return to the airport.
The NHL forward was flying home with his teammates after a four-game trip that ended in Salt Lake City with a game against the Utah Mammoth.
But the Penguins revealed on Tuesday that the 19-year-old had an unspecified issue just moments after the plane took off from the Salt Lake City airport.
The plane headed back to the airport while Kindel was treated on board by the team’s head physician, Dr. Dharmesh Vyas.
He was then put in an ambulance and rushed to the University of Utah hospital, where the team said Kindel is ‘conscious, alert and in stable condition.’
According to The Athletic, several Penguins staffers – including members of the medical and coaching teams – will remain in Utah with the teenager.
Penguins star Ben Kindel was rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical emergency
The 19-year-old had an unspecified issue moments after the plane took off from Salt Lake City
‘The health and safety of our players, as well as the privacy for their families, are our top priority,’ the Penguins said in a statement.
Following Kindel’s medical emergency, his teammates remained in Utah for several hours. They were slated to head back to Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening.
Kindel is in his second season with the Penguins after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 draft.
The 19-year-old has two goals and two assists in nine games. He played 18 minutes, 53 seconds in a 5-4 loss to Utah on Monday night.
