Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel is expected to return to practice next week after experiencing a vasovagal syncope that caused a sudden loss of consciousness and an emergency medical flight landing in Salt Lake City on October 20, 2026.
The 19-year-old forward was ten minutes into the team’s charter flight leaving Salt Lake City International Airport following a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth when he experienced the medical episode. Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and the medical staff on board immediately administered oxygen, and Kindel regained consciousness, as The Daily Beast reported.
An ambulance was waiting upon arrival, and paramedics transported the young player to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation. He was conscious, alert, and in stable condition later that afternoon. After receiving clearance to travel on October 21, Kindel returned to Pittsburgh alongside assistant general manager Jason Spezza, assistant coach Nick Bonino, director of high performance Richard Rotenberg, and Dr. Vyas. The team canceled practice on Wednesday following the prolonged travel day, while members of the coaching staff, medical team, and front office initially stayed behind in Utah to assist him.
As of Tuesday evening, Penguins forward Ben Kindel was still undergoing evaluation at a hospital in Utah for an unspecified ailment:https://t.co/FjANLSjkk3
Kyle Dubas Details Medical Diagnosis and Return Timeline
Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas addressed reporters on Thursday morning to clarify the nature of the incident, confirming that medical professionals diagnosed the episode as vasovagal syncope, a common type of fainting triggered by a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that restricts blood flow to the brain. Dubas noted that Kindel has no prior history of the condition. Vice Chair of Cardiology for the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, Dr. Alison Bailey noted that fainting episodes during athletic activities warrant extra medical precautions to evaluate surrounding circumstances and identify potential triggers.
“The understanding is that there’s certainly no history of it with Ben,” Dubas said. “Obviously, we’ll work through it to figure (out) what exactly triggered it. I don’t know about it either. But no prior history of it, no.”
Kyle Dubas, Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager
Kindel was placed on injured reserve on Thursday alongside winger Bryan Rust, while the team recalled winger Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Chase Pietila.
Kyle Dubas spoke to the media this morning on the status of Ben Kindel. pic.twitter.com/YtnHDTkILm
Penguins Players and Staff Recover from Flight Emergency
While assistant general manager Jason Spezza, assistant coach Nick Bonino, director of high performance Richard Rotenberg, and Dr. Vyas stayed behind in Utah with Kindel before traveling back to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the rest of the roster processed the emotional toll of the flight. Head coach Dan Muse noted that personnel like director of team operations Jason Seidling helped restore calm on the plane, while Dubas specifically praised the Air Canada flight crew by name.
“Happy everything is alright,” defenseman, Erik Karlsson said. “We’re moving on from that. Glad to see ‘Kindy’ is here today and in good spirits.”
Erik Karlsson, Penguins Defenseman
Sidney Crosby added that having Kindel back in the building provided a welcome lift for the group after a frightening day where hockey took a backseat to human well-being. Center Blake Lizotte and coach Dan Muse both emphasized that the human side of the sport remains paramount when unexpected health crises occur during the course of an NHL season.
Sophomore Forward Eyes Ice Return
Selected 11th overall by Pittsburgh in the 2025 NHL Draft, Kindel surprised many by making the roster out of training camp as a rookie and appearing in 77 games with 17 goals and 35 points. The Penguins carry a 3-6-1 record into their upcoming schedule, sitting at 1-6-1 over their last eight games following a winless four-game road trip.
We play tonight. We play Saturday night. … Our hope is to get everything done, tested, back into training here in the next four days or so and see if he can return to practice on Sunday or Monday.
Kyle Dubas, Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager
Dubas emphasized that the team will not rush the process.
Forward Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Chase Pietila have been recalled from the @WBSPenguins (AHL).Forwards Ben Kindel and Bryan Rust have been placed on Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/ZjLIUNU9C6
More on Ben Kindel
“It’s family. These are people that we spend a lot of time with, that we go through a lot with."A situation like that, it puts things in perspective pretty quickly.”On Ben Kindel and the Penguins feeling good for a variety of reasons Thursday:https://t.co/YcdW3Gl2u8
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