Ben Kindel was back in full contact Tuesday, taking a regular Pittsburgh Penguins practice for the first time since he lost consciousness on the team flight out of Salt Lake City last week.
The 19-year-old forward worked for more than an hour and said he feels ready to turn the page. He has missed Pittsburgh’s past two games after the Oct. 20 medical emergency, which came a day after he logged 18:53 in a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth.
Quick facts
- Kindel was a full participant in Tuesday’s contact practice.
- He could return Thursday when Pittsburgh hosts Utah at PPG Paints Arena at 7 p.m. ET.
- The Penguins are 5-6-1 and have won two straight at home after an 0-4-0 road trip.
- Kindel has two goals and two assists in nine games this season.
- Justin Brazeau also practiced fully, though he skated on an extra fifth line.
Kindel experienced vasovagal syncope, a common fainting episode caused by a sharp decline in heart rate and blood pressure that reduces blood flow to the brain. Shortly after the Penguins’ plane departed Salt Lake City International Airport, he was unconscious for roughly 10 minutes.
He was given oxygen before the aircraft made an emergency medical landing, then was taken to the University of Utah Hospital. Kindel was cleared to fly back to Pittsburgh on Oct. 21 and has since gone through testing and treatment.
“It felt pretty good,” Kindel said after practice. “It was nice being out there with the guys again and getting ready for the weekend.”
He said the incident is behind him and that he is not carrying any hesitation into a possible return. Kindel began working out within a day or two of the collapse and had already been around the club’s facility, including Sunday’s Halloween gathering in the locker room.
Kindel thanked the Penguins’ medical and training staffs, the doctors involved and the flight crew for their response. He called it an unusual experience but said the attention now is on getting back into the season.
Coach Dan Muse liked what he saw from the rookie’s first full practice. Kindel had remained around the team even before he was cleared for on-ice work, but Tuesday marked the next step in his return.
“It was great to have him back with us,” Muse said. “Having him be a full participant in a team practice was a really good thing.”
Sidney Crosby said Kindel’s return to the ice is an encouraging indicator after the forward had been visible around the rink during the recovery process. The captain said it has been good for the room to see him progressing.
Tuesday’s alignment put Kindel at center between Egor Chinakhov on the left side and Evgeni Malkin on the right. Malkin, tied with Nick Robertson for the Penguins’ team lead with six goals, missed the Oct. 24 overtime win against Nashville because of illness.
Chinakhov had missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury. Brazeau, meanwhile, has yet to play this season after suffering a lower-body injury in a Sept. 21 preseason game, though his full practice participation represents another positive development for Pittsburgh.
Kindel, the No. 11 selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, has 19 goals and 20 assists in 86 NHL games. His four points this season came in his first nine games, and he entered the interruption without a point in six straight outings.
“It has just been about getting back to normal,” Kindel said. “There were a couple of strange days, but being back with the guys feels normal now. I’m excited for the rest of the year.”
The Penguins will get another look at the Mammoth on Thursday, with Kindel’s availability set to be determined after his return to practice. Pittsburgh’s priority is a third consecutive home win and a cleaner response after the winless four-game trip.
