Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel

Phillip "Phil" Kessel (born October 2, 1987), nicknamed Phil The Thrill, is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kessel is a product of USA Hockey National Team Development Program and became that program's all-time leader for goals and points in his final 2004–05 year. Kessel finished his amateur career by playing collegiate hockey for the University of Minnesota in the WCHA. He was the fifth-overall pick of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, taken by the Boston Bruins. In his rookie season, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for overcoming testicular cancer and continuing to play. Kessel plays internationally for the United States, and represented them every year between 2003-2010 except 2009 due to a shoulder injury. At the 2010 Winter Olympics Kessel played in 6 games, recording a goal and an assist en route to a silver medal.