PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins gave an update Thursday on the status of forward Ben Kindel, who experienced a medical episode on a plane.
Kyle Dubas, president of hockey operations and general manager for the Penguins, spoke during a press conference at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Kindel, 19, collapsed about 10 minutes into the Penguins’ return flight from Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Dubas said. The collapse has since been diagnosed as a vasovagal episode.
The Mayo Clinic describes a vasovagal episode as when “your heart rate and blood pressure ... drop suddenly. That leads to reduced blood flow to your brain, causing you to briefly lose consciousness.”
The Penguins medical director was on the flight and tended to Kindel along with other staff. Kindel was given oxygen and regained consciousness.
Dubas said the flight performed an emergency medical landing back in Salt Lake City, where paramedics met the plane and took Kindel to the University of Utah Medical Center for further treatment.
Kindel was cleared Wednesday to travel back to Pittsburgh and was at the Lemieux Sports Complex for treatment and testing Thursday, Dubas said. He will be placed on the injured reserve list.
“We will obviously follow very strict guidelines to ensure a safe return to training and play for Ben. That’s our primary goal and paramount to his future and health,” Dubas said.
Born in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Kindel was the Penguins’ first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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