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The Pittsburgh Penguins’ team plane made an emergency landing after player Ben Kindel suffered a “medical episode” shortly after takeoff from Salt Lake City on Tuesday, October 20.
The Penguins’ physician and medical staff were on board and “immediately attended to Ben,” according to a statement released by the team.
“An ambulance was waiting upon arrival, and he was taken to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation,” the team said. “Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition.”
The Penguins added, “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.”
Members of the team’s medical staff, front office and coaching staff will stay in Utah with Kindel, 19, according to The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.
The rest of Kindel’s teammates remained in Utah hours after the incident, but left the ground again at roughly 5:30 p.m. ET. Pittsburgh lost, 5-4, to the Utah Mammoth on Monday, October 19.
The Penguins’ next game is on Thursday, October 22, when they host the Florida Panthers.
Kindel is currently in his second season with the Penguins after being drafted 11th overall by the franchise in the 2025 NHL Draft.
After missing the team’s first game of the 2026-2027 season with a lower-body injury, Kindel has played in all nine since. He has two goals and two assists.
A native of British Columbia, Canada, Kindel celebrated being drafted by the Penguins with his one and only Instagram post.
“A dream come true,” he wrote at the time. “Grateful for everyone who helped me get here.”
Kindel was drafted following a celebrated junior hockey career with the Calgary Hitmen.
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“It’s no surprise that Ben was taken this high with his exceptional hockey IQ and competitive nature,” Hitmen general manager Garry Davidson said. “He continues to prove people wrong. This is an incredible achievement and marks the first step toward his goal of playing in the NHL.”
In October 2025, Kindel became the fifth-youngest player to make his NHL debut in Penguins franchise history.
“I remember from a really young age, him saying he’s going to play in the NHL,” his mother, Sara Maglio, told NHL.com after her son was drafted. “Me knowing the statistics and the percentage, I never really let myself believe it. Not that I didn’t believe in him, but we’re realistic.”
Kindel told NHL.com that his family had been a constant support system along the way.
“They’ve done so much to me, taught me so much, and helped me get to this point, and I wouldn’t be here without them,” he said.
