News broke on Tuesday of a very troubling situation that happened on the Pittsburgh Penguins flight. Their flight had to turn around and land back in Salt Lake City shortly after departure due to a medical episode. Ben Kindel experienced a medical emergency.
Here is what the Penguins released to the public
I, much like everyone else, is hoping for the best. This is terrible to see. It is especially troubling when something like this happens when the player is so young (19) and is well-conditioned as a professional athlete.
What’s known so far about Kindel
As of right now there are no official updates about what the medical emergency was and I don’t have an appetite to speculate. What I do know is that given what Kris Letang has gone through over the years it opens up your eyes to all sorts of different medical emergencies that you otherwise wouldn’t have thought an NHL player to have. I am not suggesting Kindel has anything like what Letang has gone through, but it still didn’t stop my mind from racing when I originally read this news.
It was encouraging to see that Ben was conscious, alert, and in stable condition. It is great that the Penguins have a team doctor with them and that no doubt assisted in making the situation better overall. I’m sure we will get more information in due time about what the path forward looks like. I’m just happy that whatever it was they have him in a safe situation now.
It has been a tough sophomore season for Kindel despite looking like he is very much ready to take the next positive steps in his career. He was injured early in his first preseason game where he looked like he was shot out of a cannon.
Since then, his deployment by Dan Muse hasn’t put him in the best spots to showcase his newfound skating power. His quality of teammate has been lacking. It has nerfed what should have been an exciting start to the year for Kindel.
Yesterday’s setback is obviously in its own category that transcends hockey.
Kindel has become one of my favorite reasons to tune in and watch the team and probably will be for a long time. His IQ and skills were never in question. Now that he has clearly committed to putting in the work to get stronger and faster it will open up so many great possibilities for him on the ice. I am very much looking forward to seeing how that looks.
For now, take your time and rest up, Ben. There are more important things than hockey.
