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Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He was a member of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program holds the career record for goals with 104 in the program’s history. 

Related Biography: Bill Plante

 Phill Kessel Background and age, bio

Philip Joseph Kessel Jr. was born on October 2, 1987 in Madison, Wisconsin. As a young boy growing up, Phil always had natural athletic talent and a quiet demeanor. He would spend countless hours developing his craft which led little time for him to develop socially. He would keep his thoughts inside and not worry about anything else but getting better at his sport.

His approach to the game was similar to his father's. A lot of people close to him say that is a mirror image of his father. Phil’s brother, Blake described the elreianthip between Phil and his father in an interview with The Globe and Mail,  "They're extremely similar. They're quiet people, and people misunderstand that sometimes, but those two have been really close. They are kind of the same person – it's scary sometimes." One of Phil’s teammates, Colby Armstrong also saw how similar they were, "It's crazy. They're really kind of the same guy. It was cool to go for dinner with both of them; it was like sitting next to twins."


Phil Kessel Sr. played the football position of quarterback at Northern Michigan University. He made it to the National Football league because his athletic abilities were enough to convince the Washington Redskins to draft him in the 10th round of the 1981 NFL draft.  He didn’t have that much success in the league but was just happy to make it. After his run, he went back him to Wisconsin so that he could focus on his family.

 Phill Kessel Professional Hockey Career

Phil was lucky to be born just two months after the great player Sidney Crosby but he was also given the same high expectations. In 2005 and 2005, many pro scouts predicted that he would become the very first draft pick. His talents were good enough to be considered for the top pick in the draft.

In his draft eligible year, he managed to score 51 points in 39 games. He did it as a very young player in Division I college hockey. While playing at the University of Minnesota, his star started to diminish and he had trouble at the 2006 world junior tournament. His draft stock started to fall and he was no longer seen as the number one prospect. Managers of NHL teams saw that he was a weird person because he would give awkward interviews and not be articulate like his fellow players.

Kessel finished sixth in NCAA scoring as a rookie but ended up getting drafted by Boston Bruins with the fifth pick. He didn’t make it to the number one pick as expected because his play had tapered off. A senior scout whose team passed on picking him said, “We weren't sure about him. He was a little immature.

What we gathered, and I don't know him that well, but he didn't seem like a very likeable person. I'm not sure about that, but that was the knock against him then."
He would eventually bounce back and have a great career playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

 Phill Kessel Relationships and membership of social groups

Kessel lived with his long-time girlfriend Brittany in Toronto. His girlfriend is from Madison, Wisconsin so he was happy to bring a piece of home with him. They also moved together when Phil switched teams and went to Pittsburgh. He was fortunate that his girlfriend was willing to make the move with him.

Phil loves to play golf, ping pong, and is a big time poker player. His teammates always loved to have him around even when they are no longer on the same steam. One of his old teammates, Armstrong said,  "He's a real easygoing, good-hearted guy. He's a simple guy: What you see is what you get. I know he comes across as a quiet, shy guy, but when he's around us, he's just a regular guy."


Quick Facts
Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Profession: Ice hockey winger
Date of Birth: October 2, 1987
Birth Place: Madison, WI
Education: N/A
Shoe Size: N/A
Net Worth 2021: 14 million
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Last Modified: Jun 27 2020
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