Ben Kindel, a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, played in front of a large group of family and friends during Sunday’s game in Vancouver. His parents, Steve Kindel and Sara Maglio, coordinated tickets for the occasion, resulting in 192 supporters at Rogers Place.
“We hope that Ben understands how much he means to us,” said Bryce McLaughlin, Sara’s cousin. “As a family member, that’s what we hope that he understands, how much support he has.”
Before the game, Bryce messaged Ben: ‘hey, have a good time. Score a goal or two or three.” Kindel responded by scoring twice in Pittsburgh’s 3-2 victory over Vancouver.
“This is wonderful,” said Ben’s great-grandmother Italia Mancin, who attended the game wearing a black and yellow scarf. Dominic Maglio, Sara’s uncle, added: “We’ve been really looking forward to this. We knew he was going to come out of his goal slump!”
Kindel had not scored since December 14 against Utah before this game. Speaking ahead of the trip about handling such streaks during the season, Kindel said: “It’s a long year, and there’re gonna be ups and downs, and there’re gonna be times when you’re scoring, times you’re not. I think it’s just the stuff in between, controlling what you can control. Sometimes the puck is not going to go in, so you’ve got to be doing other things help your team. So that’s really what I focus on.”
Known for his defensive play and trusted by coaches with key responsibilities at center and on penalty kills, Kindel also demonstrated offensive skills with his two goals—one on a re-direct from Ryan Shea near the crease and another on a slapshot from the slot that broke the net camera—bringing his season total to 10 goals in 48 games.
Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse commented: “You knew he was going to be excited coming in here. It’s a really special day, for him, for his family, friends, for everybody involved. He’s a special young man. He’s doing a great job. Thrilled for him for tonight, but also thrilled that we got the win to make today even more special.”
Kindel received the postgame helmet from teammates as recognition.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner remarked: “We were super happy for him. It’s pretty cool to watch him do what he does, especially in front of some family and some friends. A lot of them,” adding with humor: “I was from Edmonton. I don’t think I ever had that many people there. So yeah, it’s a very special moment for him, I’m sure. Probably brings him a lot of gratitude.”
After celebrating his performance with supporters behind the Penguins bench following the win over Vancouver—a scene marked by their numbers—Kindel reflected on its significance: “It’s obviously awesome. Lots of people that have been part of my life for a long time and have helped me make it here,” he said. “So it’s great. It’s about them just as much as it is myself.
“It’s great to play in front of friends and family, nice to score and get the win. Cap off a great road trip.”
