- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was hospitalized Tuesday following a medical episode aboard the team plane, prompting the flight to return to Salt Lake City International Airport.
Team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and the Penguins medical staff treated Kindel before an ambulance transported him to University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation. "Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition," the team said in a statement.
The Penguins were returning from Utah after a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday night, the final contest of a four-game Western Conference road trip. Kindel had played 18:53 against the Mammoth, second among Pittsburgh forwards behind Rickard Rakell, recording one shot on goal, one blocked shot and one hit.
Through nine of ten games this season, the forward has tallied two goals and two assists while averaging 17:19 of ice time. Pittsburgh, carrying a 3-6-1 record, is set to host the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Source: Daily Faceoff - Tue Oct 20, 4:48 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).