Penguins Plane Returns to Utah After Medical Episode Involving Ben Kindel

A 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday night quickly became an afterthought for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who say forward Ben Kindel is in stable condition following a medical episode on the team’s flight home.

In a statement posted on social media, the Penguins said their plane returned to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff. Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC and the club’s medical staff were on board and attended to Kindel right away. An ambulance met the plane on arrival and took him to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation.

“Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition.”

A statement from the Pittsburgh Penguins pic.twitter.com/fyFReh2BWL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 20, 2026

It added that the health and safety of its players, along with privacy for their families, is its top priority, and that further updates will come when appropriate.

Kindel has appeared in all nine Penguins games this season, recording two goals and two assists while averaging 17:18 of ice time.

The Penguins selected the forward in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract. He made his NHL debut last October against the New York Rangers, becoming one of the youngest players in franchise history to play a game. He scored his first goal four days later and had five goals through his first 12 games.

In 86 career NHL games, Kindel has 19 goals and 20 assists. He also played in all six of Pittsburgh’s playoff games last spring without recording a point.

The Penguins have not said what caused the episode or when Kindel might be discharged.

The Utah Mammoth immediately responded to the Penguins’ post, noting, “Sending our thoughts to the Penguins organization and well wishes to Ben for a speedy recovery.”

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