Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel returned to Pittsburgh on Wednesday after a medical episode occurred on the team plane. The 19-year-old collapsed during a flight from Salt Lake City on Tuesday, leading the aircraft to return to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff.
Penguins President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas stated that Kindel collapsed approximately 10 minutes into the flight due to a diagnosed vasovagal episode. According to Dubas, the player had no prior history of such an event, and the team is working to determine the specific trigger. During the flight, Kindel was given oxygen and regained consciousness before paramedics transported him to the University of Utah Medical Center for further treatment.
The medical response included Penguins Head Team Physician and Medical Director Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and the traveling medical staff, which included Jason Meehan, Brandon Mazza, Patrick Magee, and Rich Rotenberg. Kindel was cleared to travel back to Pittsburgh on Wednesday alongside Dr. Vyas, Rotenberg, Assistant Coach Nick Bonino, and Assistant GM Jason Spezza. He has since returned to the building for treatment and additional testing.
The team plane's return to Salt Lake City followed a flight that departed before 11 AM on Tuesday. The traveling party arrived in Pittsburgh around 8 PM on Tuesday night. Dubas noted that the organization is placing Kindel on injured reserve to follow strict guidelines ensuring a safe return to training and play.
Dubas indicated that the team hopes to complete increased testing within the next few days. The organization is monitoring Kindel to see if he can return to practice on Sunday or Monday, though Dubas noted that a specific timeframe remains uncertain.
