Penguins F Ben Kindel hospitalized after medical emergency on team plane

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was hospitalized on Tuesday after suffering a medical episode on the team's charter plane. The flight was returning home from Salt Lake City but returned to Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff. Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and medical staff treated the 19-year-old on board before an ambulance transported him to University of Utah Hospital, where he remained conscious, alert, and in stable condition.

The Penguins did not disclose the specific nature of the medical issue. The flight followed Pittsburgh's 5-4 defeat against the Utah Mammoth on Monday, which ended a four-game road trip. Kindel, selected 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, has four points in nine games this season.