University of Minnesota Athletics
Phil Kessel Signs Contract with the Boston Bruins
8/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Golden Gopher center Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) has decided to forgo his final three years of eligibility and has signed a professional contract with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. Kessel joins forwards Ryan Potulny, Danny Irmen and Kris Chucko as Golden Gophers with remaining eligibility to sign a professional contract during this offseason.
“Phil was immediately an impact player in our program and was a major reason we were able to win the WCHA Championship last season,” Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia said. “He is certainly one of the most talented players I have ever had the privilege of coaching. It is always bittersweet when a player leaves our program, but there is no doubt in my mind that Phil will have a terrific career in the NHL. I wish him a lot of success at the next level.”
A 6-0, 190-pound center, Kessel was named the 2005-06 WCHA Rookie of the Year and the Inside College Hockey Rookie of the Year, in addition to his WCHA All-Rookie Team honor. The nation’s top recruit a year ago, Kessel was second on the team in scoring (18-33--51) and ranked first in the WCHA in freshman scoring and freshman points-per-game (1.31), fourth in assists and assists per game (0.85), fifth in points per game and power-play points (10-17--27), sixth in points, seventh in power-play goals (10), 11th in game-winning goals (3), and 13th in goals and goals per game (0.46). His 51 points and points-per-game average ranked first in the nation among rookies. He ranked 13th in the nation among all players in points.
This past May, Kessel represented Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia. Kessel had one goal and one assist in seven games as Team USA finished the tournament with an overall record of 4-3-0.
Kessel was the fifth overall pick by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the third Golden Gopher in the last four years to be taken with the fifth overall selection after Thomas Vanek by Buffalo in 2003 and Blake Wheeler by Phoenix in 2004. For more information on Kessel’s signing, visit the official website of the Boston Bruins at www.bostonbruins.com.
Phil Kessel Bio
2005-06 • Freshman Season
2005-06 WCHA Rookie of the Year and WCHA All-Rookie Team member • appeared in 39 games, including 28 WCHA contests • ranked second on the team in scoring with 18-33--51, including 12-21--33 in league games • missed two games while playing for the U.S. at the World Junior Championships in Vancouver • had a team second-best 14 multi-point games and two multi-goal games • had a point in 28 of 39 games • team was 19-4-5 when he tallied a point • had seven games with three or more points • had five assists on game-winning goals • three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week (11/14, 11/28, 2/20) • named the CSTV/HCA Division I Rookie of the Month for November with 6-10--16 in eight games • ranked first in the WCHA and the nation among freshmen in scoring and points per game (1.31) • led the team with a +22 rating • second on the team in shots with 181 • ranked second on the team with three game-winning goals • had five first goals of the game • had a season-long seven-game point streak from Jan. 28-Feb. 25, during which he had 4-7--11 • recorded his first career point with an assist in the 3-3 tie vs. Alaska Fairbanks (10/15) • scored his first goal and notched his first career multi-point game with 1-2--3 in the 5-2 win over Minnesota State (10/21) • his goal came on a penalty shot, marking the first time in school history that a player scored his first career goal on a penalty shot • also assisted on the game-winning goal vs. the Mavericks • scored the shorthanded, game-winning goal in the 3-1 win at St. Cloud State (10/29) • had 2-1--3 in the series at Minnesota Duluth (11/4-5) • recorded a career-high five points (1-4--5), including the game-winner, in the 9-0 win over UAA (11/11) • added two assists in the 4 -3 win over UAA (11/12) • had 2-3--5 in the College Hockey Showcase (11/25-26) • had 2-1--3 in the 6-3 win at then-No. 1 Michigan (11/25) and two assists in the 2-2 tie at Michigan St. (11/26) • had 0-3--3 in the series sweep over Niagara (1/6-7) • had four assists, including one on a game-winner, in the series split vs. North Dakota (1/13-14) • scored the game-winner in the 3-2 win over Colorado College (1/21) • tallied his first point against the hometown Badgers with a goal in the 3-1 win at Wisconsin (1/28) • had four assists, including helpers on both game-winners, in the sweep over Denver (2/17-18) • had 0-3--3 in the 5-1 win over DU (2/18) • recorded three assists in the 4-3 win at UAA (2/24) • had 3-2--5 in the sweep over UAA (3/10-11) • notched 2-1--3 in the 6-2 win over UAA (3/11) • had three assists in the loss to SCSU at the WCHA Final Five (3/17) • had 4-5--9 in the last five games • centered Minnesota’s third line • became the first native of Wisconsin to letter at Minnesota since Kenneth Byerly in 1929-30 • named to the USCHO and Inside College Hockey All-Rookie Teams • named the INCH Rookie of the Year • drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft • represented the U.S. at the 2006 IIHF World Championships in May in Latvia • was the lone collegiate player on the U.S. National Team .
High School
Graduate of Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. • played the last two seasons in the U.S. National Team Development Program • was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Team last season and the Under-17 Team in 2003-04 • teammate of fellow Golden Gopher freshmen Jeff Frazee and Ryan Stoa • considered the nation’s No. 1 recruit for 2005-06 • led the Under-18 Team in goals (52), assists (46), points (98), power-play goals (14), shorthanded goals (7) and game- winning goals (13) in 2004-05 • his 52 goals ranks first all-time on the NTDP single-season goals list • posted 4-2--6 in seven games as a member of the U.S. National Junior Team that finished fourth at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, N.D. • won a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in the Czech Republic • earned the IIHF Directorate Award as the most outstanding forward with a tournament- best 16 points (9 -7--16) in six games • totaled 5-1--6 in four games as Team USA won the Five Nations Tournament in Tjorn, Sweden • led all players on both the Under-17 and Under-18 Teams in goals (52), points (82) and power-play goals (17) in 62 games played in 2003-04 • was also second in assists (30), tied for first in shorthanded goals (3) and tied for second in game-winning goals (4) • became the NTDP’s all-time leader in single-season goals • was brought up to participate with the Under-18 Team that finished second at the 2004 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Belarus • scored seven goals and three assists to rank second in the tournament in scoring • holds NTDP records in career points (180) and career goals (104) • ranks first and third all-time in single-season points (98, 82), and second in career assists (76) • joined the NTDP after playing Midget AAA hockey for the Madison Capitols • recorded 113 goals and 45 assists for 158 points in 71 games in 2002-03 with the Capitols • had 174-110--286 with the Capitols Bantam AAA team in 86 games in 2001-02 • helped the Capitols to second place at the Bantam National Championship • also played golf and baseball during his prep career • participated in the 2005 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.
Personal
Lists golf, fishing and playing cards as hobbies • lists winning the IIHF World Under-18 Championship as his most memorable sports thrill • son of Kathy and Phil Kessel, Sr. • his father played professional football with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders in 1982 and was drafted by the NFL’s Washington Redskins • born October 2, 1987.
Stats
University of Minnesota
Year GP G A TP P-PIM PP GW SH HT
05-06 39 18 33 51 14-28 10 3 1 0
U.S. National Team Development Program
Year GP G A TP PIM
03-04 (U18) 62 52 30 82 26
04-05 (U18) 45 52 46 98 35
Total 107 104 76 180 61
Madison Capitols (Bantam/Midget)
Year GP G A TP
01-02 86 176 110 286
02-03 71 113 45 158
Total 157 289 155 444
“Phil was immediately an impact player in our program and was a major reason we were able to win the WCHA Championship last season,” Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia said. “He is certainly one of the most talented players I have ever had the privilege of coaching. It is always bittersweet when a player leaves our program, but there is no doubt in my mind that Phil will have a terrific career in the NHL. I wish him a lot of success at the next level.”
A 6-0, 190-pound center, Kessel was named the 2005-06 WCHA Rookie of the Year and the Inside College Hockey Rookie of the Year, in addition to his WCHA All-Rookie Team honor. The nation’s top recruit a year ago, Kessel was second on the team in scoring (18-33--51) and ranked first in the WCHA in freshman scoring and freshman points-per-game (1.31), fourth in assists and assists per game (0.85), fifth in points per game and power-play points (10-17--27), sixth in points, seventh in power-play goals (10), 11th in game-winning goals (3), and 13th in goals and goals per game (0.46). His 51 points and points-per-game average ranked first in the nation among rookies. He ranked 13th in the nation among all players in points.
This past May, Kessel represented Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia. Kessel had one goal and one assist in seven games as Team USA finished the tournament with an overall record of 4-3-0.
Kessel was the fifth overall pick by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the third Golden Gopher in the last four years to be taken with the fifth overall selection after Thomas Vanek by Buffalo in 2003 and Blake Wheeler by Phoenix in 2004. For more information on Kessel’s signing, visit the official website of the Boston Bruins at www.bostonbruins.com.
Phil Kessel Bio
2005-06 • Freshman Season
2005-06 WCHA Rookie of the Year and WCHA All-Rookie Team member • appeared in 39 games, including 28 WCHA contests • ranked second on the team in scoring with 18-33--51, including 12-21--33 in league games • missed two games while playing for the U.S. at the World Junior Championships in Vancouver • had a team second-best 14 multi-point games and two multi-goal games • had a point in 28 of 39 games • team was 19-4-5 when he tallied a point • had seven games with three or more points • had five assists on game-winning goals • three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week (11/14, 11/28, 2/20) • named the CSTV/HCA Division I Rookie of the Month for November with 6-10--16 in eight games • ranked first in the WCHA and the nation among freshmen in scoring and points per game (1.31) • led the team with a +22 rating • second on the team in shots with 181 • ranked second on the team with three game-winning goals • had five first goals of the game • had a season-long seven-game point streak from Jan. 28-Feb. 25, during which he had 4-7--11 • recorded his first career point with an assist in the 3-3 tie vs. Alaska Fairbanks (10/15) • scored his first goal and notched his first career multi-point game with 1-2--3 in the 5-2 win over Minnesota State (10/21) • his goal came on a penalty shot, marking the first time in school history that a player scored his first career goal on a penalty shot • also assisted on the game-winning goal vs. the Mavericks • scored the shorthanded, game-winning goal in the 3-1 win at St. Cloud State (10/29) • had 2-1--3 in the series at Minnesota Duluth (11/4-5) • recorded a career-high five points (1-4--5), including the game-winner, in the 9-0 win over UAA (11/11) • added two assists in the 4 -3 win over UAA (11/12) • had 2-3--5 in the College Hockey Showcase (11/25-26) • had 2-1--3 in the 6-3 win at then-No. 1 Michigan (11/25) and two assists in the 2-2 tie at Michigan St. (11/26) • had 0-3--3 in the series sweep over Niagara (1/6-7) • had four assists, including one on a game-winner, in the series split vs. North Dakota (1/13-14) • scored the game-winner in the 3-2 win over Colorado College (1/21) • tallied his first point against the hometown Badgers with a goal in the 3-1 win at Wisconsin (1/28) • had four assists, including helpers on both game-winners, in the sweep over Denver (2/17-18) • had 0-3--3 in the 5-1 win over DU (2/18) • recorded three assists in the 4-3 win at UAA (2/24) • had 3-2--5 in the sweep over UAA (3/10-11) • notched 2-1--3 in the 6-2 win over UAA (3/11) • had three assists in the loss to SCSU at the WCHA Final Five (3/17) • had 4-5--9 in the last five games • centered Minnesota’s third line • became the first native of Wisconsin to letter at Minnesota since Kenneth Byerly in 1929-30 • named to the USCHO and Inside College Hockey All-Rookie Teams • named the INCH Rookie of the Year • drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft • represented the U.S. at the 2006 IIHF World Championships in May in Latvia • was the lone collegiate player on the U.S. National Team .
High School
Graduate of Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. • played the last two seasons in the U.S. National Team Development Program • was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Team last season and the Under-17 Team in 2003-04 • teammate of fellow Golden Gopher freshmen Jeff Frazee and Ryan Stoa • considered the nation’s No. 1 recruit for 2005-06 • led the Under-18 Team in goals (52), assists (46), points (98), power-play goals (14), shorthanded goals (7) and game- winning goals (13) in 2004-05 • his 52 goals ranks first all-time on the NTDP single-season goals list • posted 4-2--6 in seven games as a member of the U.S. National Junior Team that finished fourth at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, N.D. • won a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in the Czech Republic • earned the IIHF Directorate Award as the most outstanding forward with a tournament- best 16 points (9 -7--16) in six games • totaled 5-1--6 in four games as Team USA won the Five Nations Tournament in Tjorn, Sweden • led all players on both the Under-17 and Under-18 Teams in goals (52), points (82) and power-play goals (17) in 62 games played in 2003-04 • was also second in assists (30), tied for first in shorthanded goals (3) and tied for second in game-winning goals (4) • became the NTDP’s all-time leader in single-season goals • was brought up to participate with the Under-18 Team that finished second at the 2004 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Belarus • scored seven goals and three assists to rank second in the tournament in scoring • holds NTDP records in career points (180) and career goals (104) • ranks first and third all-time in single-season points (98, 82), and second in career assists (76) • joined the NTDP after playing Midget AAA hockey for the Madison Capitols • recorded 113 goals and 45 assists for 158 points in 71 games in 2002-03 with the Capitols • had 174-110--286 with the Capitols Bantam AAA team in 86 games in 2001-02 • helped the Capitols to second place at the Bantam National Championship • also played golf and baseball during his prep career • participated in the 2005 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.
Personal
Lists golf, fishing and playing cards as hobbies • lists winning the IIHF World Under-18 Championship as his most memorable sports thrill • son of Kathy and Phil Kessel, Sr. • his father played professional football with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders in 1982 and was drafted by the NFL’s Washington Redskins • born October 2, 1987.
Stats
University of Minnesota
Year GP G A TP P-PIM PP GW SH HT
05-06 39 18 33 51 14-28 10 3 1 0
U.S. National Team Development Program
Year GP G A TP PIM
03-04 (U18) 62 52 30 82 26
04-05 (U18) 45 52 46 98 35
Total 107 104 76 180 61
Madison Capitols (Bantam/Midget)
Year GP G A TP
01-02 86 176 110 286
02-03 71 113 45 158
Total 157 289 155 444
Players Mentioned
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