WHL Stars & NHL Debuts: Hitmen star Kindel hits stride with Pittsburgh Penguins

New York, N.Y.- Ben Kindel looked around the vast expanse of the NHL’s oldest arena.

Every inch of Madison Square Garden seemed steeped in hockey history.

As the 15-year-old toured through the famed rink with his family in 2022, the NHL dream seemed closer than ever and miles away at the same time.

Kindel was about to be selected by the Calgary Hitmen with the 43rd overall pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft and was in New York for a family outing after a spring hockey tournament in Philadelphia.

Just three years later, he’d be back in MSG – this time, as a WHL All-Star, an NHL first-round pick, and about to make his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I feel like that wasn’t very long ago,” Kindel told reporters after making his first NHL strides on Tuesday. “Getting to watch that and then just to be a part of a game like this… I think it’s one of the best buildings in the league. The energy in there was just unbelievable, so it was just a great experience.”

If that wasn’t enough to make the now 18-year-old’s head spin, his linemates sent him over the top.

Kindel was tapped by Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse to start alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, with Kris Letang and fellow WHL graduate Harrison Brunicke holding down the blue line.

First game ✔️ pic.twitter.com/5gsEF78KGe

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 8, 2025

“I was a little bit surprised, to be honest,” Kindel said of joining the star-studded line. “I found out right before the game when they announced the lineup. It was a really cool experience getting to line up with Sid and Gino and Tanger, so I was really grateful for that opportunity to start in the game.

Just kind of embrace the moment, just to kind of take a second to look around and see where you’re at and think about all the work you’ve put in, all the people that helped support you along the way and just be grateful for that.”

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound forward put forth a tremendous effort with a shot and a block in 15:11 of ice time while going 4-for-5 at the faceoff dot.

Kindel finished fifth among all Penguins forwards in ice time in a 3-0 win.

“They did a good job,” Muse said of Kindel and Brunicke, who also made his NHL debut. “They were poised out there. They were in good spots. I didn’t think that there was anything too loud the wrong way… There weren’t any situations that I saw them in that I thought they looked concerned with or that I was concerned with. It’s a good start.”

Now, he’ll try to elevate his game and showcase his playmaking ability that made him a 2025 WHL Eastern Conference First Team All-Star.

The Coquitlam, B.C. product posted 35 goals and 64 assists for 99 points in 65 regular-season twirls with the Hitmen in 2024-25.

Q: Which WHLer finished seventh in League scoring with 99 points in 65 games and is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft?

A: Ben Kindel – duh!@WHLHitmen | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/uwe2a50Mzf

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 15, 2025

He potted a team-leading 15 points (8G-7A) in 11 postseason games before tacking on another seven points (1G-6A) in a gold medal-winning effort for Canada at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Kindel now turns his attention to making his home debut at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh as the Penguins host the New York Islanders on Thursday and soaking in every moment of his NHL ride.

“Obviously, there’s going to be nerves, but I think just having that confidence to be able to make plays and trust yourself,” Kindel said. “You’re here, so you might as well just go get it, go get after it. No hesitation.”