Penguins' Ben Kindel back at practice after on-flight collapse
The 19-year-old centre skated on Pittsburgh's second line Tuesday, a week after a vasovagal episode forced his team's plane to turn back.
Ben Kindel is back on the ice. The Pittsburgh Penguins centre returned to practice Tuesday morning, about a week after he collapsed on the team's flight home from Utah.
The 19-year-old skated on the second line with Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin. Coach Dan Muse said he was a full participant.
Kindel's collapse was due to vasovagal syncope, a common cause of fainting. The plane made an emergency medical landing, and he was taken to the University of Utah Hospital. He was cleared to travel home to Pittsburgh on Oct. 21.
He played 18:53 in the 5-4 loss to Utah on Oct. 19 and missed the Penguins' next two games. He said he began working out one or two days after collapsing.
"Was nice to be back out there with the guys and preparing for this weekend," Kindel said after practice. He said the Penguins had explained the incident well in their releases and in general manager Kyle Dubas' press conference, and that he has no further facts of his own to add.
"Just really grateful for the Penguins staff, doctors, trainers, everybody who were so good, as well as the flight crew," he said. "They handled it with really good professionalism and everything worked out good."
Kindel, the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has four points (two goals, two assists) in nine games this season.
Pittsburgh is next at home Thursday against the Utah Mammoth.
