Penguins F Ben Kindel hospitalized after medical emergency on team plane

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was hospitalized Tuesday after experiencing a medical episode aboard the team's flight home from Salt Lake City. The Penguins said their charter returned to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff when Kindel, 19, experienced what the club described as a medical episode. Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and members of Pittsburgh's medical staff treated Kindel aboard the plane. 'An ambulance met the aircraft after it returned to the airport and transported him to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation,' the Penguins said in a statement. 'Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition.' The team did not disclose the nature of the medical issue and said it would provide additional information when appropriate. Pittsburgh was returning home from a four-game road trip that concluded Monday with a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Kindel played 18:53 in the game and did not record a point. The 11th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, Kindel is in his second season with Pittsburgh. He has two goals and two assists through nine games this season after totaling 17 goals and 18 assists in 77 games as a rookie. Kindel, a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, made the Penguins out of training camp as an 18-year-old last season. Pittsburgh is scheduled to return to action Thursday when it hosts the Florida Panthers.