Players Only: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel joins
All right, let’s get it after another players only. We have second youngest player in the National Hockey League, one that has taken the Pittsburgh fans by storm. Going to welcome in Ben Kindle. Thanks for joining us. You’re on the road down there. Just got in the real quick. Ruper Ben, do do your parents know that you’re out right now? Uh uh yeah, I think I think they’re they think you know you’re in Tampa. Make sure. Yeah, I think so. parents are going to worry about their young their youngsters. I’m one of them. I’m there now. It’s Hey buddy, like we have fun with that. But like how crazy is it? Did you where were you at like last year this time? Could you would would last year this time Ben Kindle believe that he’d be in Tampa right now playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins doing what he’s doing? Yeah. Um he probably probably wouldn’t have believed it. Um, it’s always been a dream of mine, but um, I never know knew how fast it would come, so I’m just really grateful to be here and, um, yeah, it’s been great. Now, Ben, I was 36 years old when I played my first season, my only season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and I had played against, you know, that group of Hall of Fame players, those legends. walking in prior to training camp, just as the guys are getting ready for training camp in the skate, there’s still just an aura and an intimidating element of being around number 87 in that dressing room. I was 36 years old. I’d gone headto-head against him a number of times. What was it like for you when you went into that room for the first time? Yeah, it was it was surreal. I mean, you watch all these guys, obviously Sid and then all the other legends in that in that dressing room. um growing up and then um getting to step in there for the first time is is just an unbelievable experience. Um and I think um obviously like you said maybe intimidating at first, but they’re all unbelievable leaders and great people. So it makes it um really easy on young guys to come into the league. So take us back to when you were when you were a younger um human. Uh you grew you’re in BC. You grew up in BC. Uh you’re a Montreal Canadians fan though. Can you take it like why why was that uh why was that a thing? Yeah. Um my dad was a Habs fan growing up so um he kind of just transferred on to me and just kind of grew up watching watching the Habs and um Yeah. Yeah. Ben, were you one of those uh kids who just didn’t want to do what your parents said for long periods of time? Like do you hate your family? Because these you’re like from a soccer family and all of a sudden you’re this stud hockey player. like I’m not doing what you’re doing, mom and dad. I’m going to go play hockey. No, no, for sure. I mean, um I I played soccer for a long time growing up. Um so kind of humored them there, but I also really enjoyed it. Um but my dad was, like I said, big hockey fan, so he was always happy that that I went this way. Um nice and he’s really enjoyed the journey. So yeah. This pretty talented family. So let let’s get this straight. So, we have your your mom and dad both played uh professional soccer and and uh what the Canadian national team and then your sister has played for the U7 national team as well. Is that correct? Yeah, it’s correct. Um obviously my parents were were pretty good back in the day and then my sister’s she’s kind of coming up now. Um a little bit younger, but she’s been really successful so far and she’s got a bright future ahead for her. What’s what’s what’s the support look like with with that? I’m sure she’s gone to a lot of your hockey games. You’ve you’ve gone to her soccer matches and like do you do you guys I don’t know. It’s that’s got to be that it’s got to be really cool experience to have with your sibling that you guys are both thriving in sports. Yeah, I think so. I mean, um with me and her, I think it’s always been kind of a competitive relationship. We’re both really competitive, so we’re obviously really supportive of each other and try and make it out whenever we can. and our kind of seasons kind of conflict on the way a lot. Um, and she’s been back home the last couple years, but uh we’re yeah really big supporters of each other. Now, are there backyard soccer games with with mom, dad, your sister? Like there had to be some when you guys were little. No. Or did you have one-on-one matches with your sister? I I can’t imagine there weren’t some sort of competitive games going on in the yard or in the basement. Yeah, all the time growing up. um I guess not as much anymore. Um but yeah, definitely growing up was a really competitive household. Always playing games and different different sports and stuff. So, uh I think that was a great um great as a kid. Did mom and dad get involved in the games? Um yeah, I mean they they’d come out and kick the ball around sometimes or uh my dad my dad coached me and my my parents coached my sister so they were always kind of involved with soccer. Um, so yeah, it was great to have uh have them to look up to and and and their careers to look up to as a kid. So, um, let me get this straight. So, I mean, obviously you this 11th overall pick last year in last year’s draft. There’s three of you from this draft that are in the National Hockey League, yourself, uh, Misa, and Schaefer. And, um, but the number was interesting to me, but I I’m I’ve been told that, uh, tags, we both know tags really well. the equipment guy there and great guy in in pit. He did he just did he just give you 81? Did that because I think a lot of people would probably be like oh like that’s that’s Phil Kessle’s number like uh I thought it was a really cool number. Like how you feel about it? Yeah. Um I I didn’t know what to expect at first. I mean I had it from rookie camp. Um they kind of gave it to me. Um and then I I never really wanted like to ask to change numbers or anything. Like I never knew if I was like going to stay another day. I was kind of living day by day. Um, so I just kind of stuck with it, I guess. And yeah, just kind of worked out to be Phil Kessle’s number. Um, obviously they’re giving out a lot of those high numbers at at rookie camps and stuff like that. So I guess it just kind of worked out that way. But yeah. Can you Ben, can you talk about sort of, you know, you’re on that top power play unit, which is so impressive, but you’re there for a reason and you know, you get to play with Sid. You see how Sid is on the bench maybe in power play meetings or and and Gino the same way. What’s it like? Are you just the sponge in these meetings or on the bench listening trying to gather as much information or how do those conversations go for you with those legends? Yeah, I know for sure. I think just trying to learn as much as possible each day. I think it’s a golden opportunity that I have to be around those guys. Um I’m going to take full advantage of it. Um, so definitely learn from whatever whatever they’re telling me or whatever they’re saying. But at the same time, I also feel like got to try and bring your own element um to the game and and help the team win as well and help the team be successful. So, you’re just trying to find that balance, I feel. What was what was uh first NHL game like as far as parents coming in, family coming in for the game? Was it just I it had to be a pretty cool moment for you. Again, just this last 365 days has just been got to be a whirlwind. And all a sudden you’re in the NHL. Like what was that experience like for you? Yeah. Um unbelievable. Um my parents got to fly in. Um we played at MSG for the first game. Um so it was it was unbelievable venue and uh yeah, I can’t be more grateful for the opportunity Penguins have given me. Um, and it’s just been a crazy last couple months. MSG, that’s not not a bad start and a big win to go to go with it. I got one more asking about a teammate. How’s Big Kev Hayes been treating you? He’s great. Um, he’s probably one of the funniest guys I’ ever met. Um, I think a lot of guys would say that. So, there’s so many good leaders on this team and and guys that take care of the young guys. So, can’t be more grateful for that. Love it. What uh have a what’s your just real quick? I mean, you’re in Western Pennsylvania. It’s it’s kind of, you know, Penguins. It’s Steelers country. It’s it’s college football scene. Like, have you have you experienced any NFL games or any any college football or anything? No, I’ I’d like to. I mean, Steelers are obviously big here. Um, so like to try and make it out to a game eventually. Obviously, our schedule’s pretty busy, but um at some point would definitely like to and yeah. Oh, great, buddy. Well, hey, before we let you go, we got a little fun game we’re gonna play and uh we’re going to show you a couple things. Want to know what you were thinking in these moments? If you remember them, we can help you out if you don’t, but uh what’s going on in your mind here? Do you remember this moment? Um yeah, I think that would have been first goal. Um was pretty cool. Bingo. Third third game. um just kind of came down the wing off a turnover and kind of shot it and was obviously unbelievable experience and yeah was really happy. It’d be nice if it was against like a better go. No, it was he’s might be the best. Uh that’s pretty pretty spectacular. But that’s one you’re always going to remember and the three of us can sit around and laugh about this because I know who I was in the game when Brian scored his first. His first goal was against Marty Bdor. My first goal is against Roberto Lango and yours right there with Shesty. Like that that that feels good when people ask you, right? Yeah. Not bad goalies. There we go. Right on. We got another one here coming up. Here’s one. What’s uh Foxy doing there? Yeah. Uh that first game. Pretty cool. Um yeah, pretty cool to go up against some of those guys. kind of like looked up to a guy like Fox growing up, smaller defenseman, but um yeah, obviously I think he he got me there looks like. What is the uh how do you how have you adjusted with the physicality like as far as you know, is it everything you thought it was? Is it is it just hockey to you? Uh it’s it’s been impressive seeing a guy like you and just the way you kind of take everything in stride and just seem like nothing bothers you. Yeah, I think um obviously guys here are a lot bigger, faster, stronger, but um I wouldn’t say like it’s been overly physical. Um it’s kind of harder to get to the inside, maybe get to the front of the net, stuff like that. But um yeah. Well, I’ve been uh on this show before saying how I I feel like I could have had a successful career in Major League Baseball. I think you might be on the same path. Look at this goal. What were you thinking here in Toronto? I hope it’s under the bar and they count it. Yeah. Um kind of just a bouncing puck in the slot, bounced up. I don’t know. It’s just like in the moment just took a swing at it. Tried to get it to the net. Um and just got lucky. It went in I guess some stayed under the bar. So yeah. No, no, we don’t say we got lucky there. That’s all skill, buddy. You got to own it. Yeah. So role player now. So, like is being a being an ABS fan growing up, would was it I don’t know. Does it feel cool to have success against the Leafs? You know what I mean? Like that’s got to feel good. No, 100%. Um big rivalry there. Always kind of hated the hated the Leafs growing up. So, I love it. Um it’s nice to score against them, I guess. Oh, great. Here’s the last one. One more. Yeah. Yeah. Um that was in Sweden, I think. Uh, we did a shootout competition. Um, the winner got the Viking helmet, so had to wear that after practice. So, I was wondering if it was the winner or the loser. Yeah, I think uh Hazy was the loser. He had to wear a different helmet. It was pretty funny. Hazy. But, uh, yeah, that’s great. That’s great. How was How was uh Sweden? Pretty cool experience, huh? Yeah, it was it was great. Great spot. Um, great for like Carl and and Rex as well to get to go and show us where they’re from. Um, so yeah, I think it was great for our team. Yeah, that that was I remember we Brian and I went were over there and uh it was cool like Hank showing remember he took Hank took us out to dinner the one night there and like you just got to eat some. Did they tell you like, “Hey, you got to try this.” Like were they You got to be so proud to show their homeland. Yeah. Yeah, they took us to a couple nice dinner spots, couple nice spots in the city. So, um, it was a lot of fun. Did you come home with any Swedish candy? I mean, 18-year-old kid, you you just you got to have a sweet tooth still, right? Or you off that. I still have candy. Yeah, I think we all did. Even the older guys, we were we were there at the candy shop bringing some home. Oh, I love it. Sid would dive into the junk food, too. He would He’s sneaky. He’s sneaky. Sneaky sweet. Ruper. Yes. Meer loves. Uh, hey, we appreciate you swinging by. Enjoy Tampa. Keep doing what you’re doing. We enjoy watching you. Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Penguins rookie forward Ben Kindel joins Mike Rupp and Brian Boyle to discuss playing with legends in Pittsburgh and more in Players Only.
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