Kyle Dubas Pittsburgh Penguins update on Ben Kindel It might be good news for Ben Kindel and the Pittsburgh Penguins, or at least far from the worst-case scenario, after the center collapsed on the team plane home from Salt Lake City on Tuesday. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas held a press conference Thursday morning to address the situation and provide an update.
Dubas’s tempered assessment included a short return to the ice for Kindel, which could happen as soon as Sunday. However, Dubas was clear that the Penguins would maintain strict guidelines for Kindel’s return to practice and game action.
Dubas said Kindel collapsed 10 minutes into the flight. Penguins team doctor Dr. Vyas immediately tended to the player, administering oxygen, and Kindel quickly regained consciousness.
As the plane landed, Kindel was taken via ambulance to the nearby University of Utah Medical Center. Dubas said the event was diagnosed as a vasovagal episode.
“The plan for Ben will be obviously increased testing, clearance medically, and then return to training and return to practice,” said Dubas. “We’ll provide those updates as we go along.” Kindel, 19, was cleared and has returned to Pittsburgh.
Assistant general manager Jason Spezza, assistant coach Nick Bonino, director of high performance Richard Rotenberg, and Dr. Vyas remained in Salt Lake City with Kindel and traveled home with him. “My understanding is that there’s certainly no history with Ben of (having one before), and obviously we’ll work through to figure out what exactly triggered it,” said Dubas.
According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, a vasovagal episode occurs because one’s body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress. A patient’s heart rate and blood pressure drop suddenly, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain and causing a brief loss of consciousness.
Dubas also admitted the event had an impact on Kindel. “It’s just, you know, not even 48 hours after.
It’s probably still a process,” Dubas continued. “I mean, I met with him here this morning, very clearly shaken and sorting through it.
So I think we just have to continue to help him with our resources through that.” Among those Dubas praised were coach Dan Muse and director of team operations Jason Seidling for quickly restoring calm on the plane. Dubas also extended praise for the Air Canada flight crew, whom he called out by name.
This season, Kindel has anchored the Penguins’ third line with a rotating cast of wingers, registering four points (2-2-4) in nine games. The Penguins placed him and winger Bryan Rust on injured reserve and recalled winger Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Chase Pietila.
PHN will update the story with the video of the press conference shortly.
