The Pittsburgh Penguins were heading home from Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday when 19-year-old forward Ben Kindel had a medical emergency, the team announced in a statement.
The team charter plane returned to Salt Lake City, where Kindel was taken by ambulance to a hospital. No other details about the nature of his medical episode were announced, but he was alert, according to the team.
Kindel somewhat surprisingly made the team out of training camp a year ago and had a solid rookie season, with 17 goals, 35 points in 77 games. He has two goals, four points in nine games this season. He played Monday against the Mammoth in what was the Penguins’ fourth loss in four games on the road trip. He had no points and played 18:53.
It was not immediately clear if or when the team plane resumed its trip back to Pittsburgh. The Penguins had a travel day on Tuesday and is scheduled to practice Wednesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
Here is the full team statement:
“The Pittsburgh Penguins team plane returned to the Salt Lake City International Airport today shortly after takeoff due to a medical episode involving forward Ben Kindel. Team physicial r. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC, as well as the team’s medical staff, were on board and immediately attended to Ben. An ambulance was waiting upon arrival, and he was taken to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation. Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition.
“The health and safety of our players, as well as the privacy for their families, are our top priority. The team will provide further updates when appropriate.”