20 Fun Facts You Should Know About Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel is an American professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

1. Phil Kessel was born on October 2, 1987, in Madison, Wisconsin.

2. His father, Phil Kessel Sr., is a former professional hockey player who played for the University of Wisconsin and several minor league teams.

3. His older sister, Amanda Kessel, is also a professional ice hockey player and Olympic medalist.

4. Kessel began playing organized hockey at the age of four.

5. He played youth hockey for the Madison West All-Stars and the Madison Capitols.

6. Kessel played for the U.S. National Under-18 Team in 2005 and 2006.

7. He was named the MVP of the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships after leading the tournament in scoring with 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists).

8. Kessel was drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

9. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2006, against the Buffalo Sabres and scored his first career NHL goal on October 10, 2006, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

10. Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 18, 2009, in a six-player deal that saw him join his sister Amanda in Toronto.

11. He set a franchise record for most goals in a season by a rookie with 36 goals in the 2010-11 season.

12. Kessel was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2015, in a six-player deal that saw him reunited with former Bruins teammate Tyler Seguin.

13. Kessel has represented the United States in several international tournaments, including the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Championships, the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the 2014 Winter Olympics.

14. He was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.

15. Kessel currently ranks sixth all-time in NHL history for most goals scored by an American-born player with 328 goals.

16. He is also the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time leader in goals (182) and points (439).

17. Kessel has won two Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins, in 2016 and 2017.

18. He was named to the NHL All-Star Game five times, in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018.

19. Kessel’s older sister, Amanda, is also a professional ice hockey player and Olympic medalist. She won a gold medal with the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

20. Kessel is one of only four players in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in 10 consecutive seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Jaromir Jagr.