Penguins forward Ben Kindel just happy ‘to be back on the ice”

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel returned to the ice on Tuesday, participating in practice for the first time since suffering a medical incident. The 19-year-old skated as the center on the second line alongside wings Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin, while also centering the second power-play unit. Kindel expressed deep gratitude to the medical staff, flight crew, and team personnel who aided him following his hospitalization.

Kindel's absence occurred after he suffered a vasovagal episode and fainted during a team flight departing Utah on October 20, which prompted the airplane to return to Salt Lake City International Airport. While head coach Dan Muse noted that Kindel's game status remains day-to-day, the forward stated he hopes to return to the lineup for Pittsburgh's upcoming games against the Utah Mammoth or Montreal Canadiens.