The Pittsburgh Penguins have canceled today’s practice and say they will not have any media availability today. The team statement attributes the schedule change to “yesterday’s events and the extended travel.
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas will be available to the media tomorrow, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry prior to morning skate.
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT:
The Penguins are scheduled to practice at noon today in Cranberry and may have some new information about the condition of prized young forward Ben Kindel. The 19-year-old suffered some sort of “medical episode” on the team plane as it was leaving Salt Lake City, so the plane turned around and landed. Kindel was attended to by team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and other medical personnel, then was rushed to the University of Utah Hospital, where, the Penguins said, he was “conscious, alert and in stable condition.”
The Penguins are scheduled to play the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena tomorrow night.
STATEMENT FROM THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:
“The Pittsburgh Penguins team plane returned to the Salt Lake City International Airport today shortly after takeoff due to a medical episode involving forward Ben Kindel. Team physician, Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC, as well as the team’s medical staff were on board and immediately attended to Ben. An ambulance was waiting upon arrival, and he was taken to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation. Ben is conscious, alert and in stable condition. The health and safety of our players, as well as the privacy for their families, are our top priority. The team will provide further updates when appropriate.”
