Blake Kessel

Blake Kessel
Born April 13, 1989
Verona, WI, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
Liiga team
Former teams 		Tampereen Ilves
Adirondack Phantoms
Rochester Americans
NHL Draft 166th overall, 2007
New York Islanders
Playing career 2011–present
Medal record
Ice hockey
Competitor for  United States
World Junior A Challenge
Bronze 2007 Trail

Blake Kessel (born April 13, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Tampereen Ilves in Finland. He used to play for Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the New York Islanders in the 6th round (166th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Early life

Kessel was born to Phil and Kathy Kessel in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended the University of New Hampshire and majored in sports studies. Blake comes from a long line of professional athletes. His brother, Phil Kessel, plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL), his sister Amanda Kessel plays for the United States women's national ice hockey team, his father played football for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, and his cousin, David Moss, plays for the Arizona Coyotes (NHL).[1]

Playing career

Kessel has been described as an offensive minded defenseman, who likes to join the offensive rush, which has been attributed to his speed and skill.[2]

In Kessel's first season with the Waterloo Black Hawks, he played in 59 games, scoring 11 goals and accumulating 27 assists, for a total of 38 points. In his last season with the Black Hawks, Kessel led all defensemen in scoring with 57 points, scoring 19 goals and notching 38 assists in 59 games.[1] Continuing the season to the playoffs, Kessel played in 11 games, adding 10 assists and 1 goal, for a total of 11 points.[3]

Kessel signed an entry level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on September 14, 2011. After spending two seasons playing for the team's minor league affiliates, the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL and the Trenton Titans of the ECHL, the Flyers did not give Kessel a qualifying offer making him an unrestricted free agent.

On October 22, 2013, Kessel signed with the Bakersfield Condors.[4]

On September 28, 2014, the Toronto Marlies announced that they had signed Kessel to an AHL contract. He was assigned to the Orlando Solar Bears, the Leafs' ECHL affiliate, on October 12, 2014.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 59 11 27 38 38 9 1 5 6 8
2007–08 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 59 19 38 57 26 11 1 10 11 12
2008–09 New Hampshire Wildcats HE 37 6 7 13 24 — — — — —
2009–10 New Hampshire Wildcats HE 38 10 28 38 28 — — — — —
2010–11 New Hampshire Wildcats HE 39 5 22 27 32 — — — — —
2011–12 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 56 1 17 18 10 — — — — —
2012–13 Trenton Titans ECHL 54 8 33 41 34 — — — — —
2012–13 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 7 2 2 4 2 — — — — —
2013–14 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 4 1 2 3 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 43 7 26 33 28 6 2 0 2 9
2013–14 Rockford IceHogs AHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Rochester Americans AHL 8 0 2 2 4 — — — — —
AHL totals 74 3 21 24 16 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2009 United States WJC 5th 6 0 1 1 2
Junior totals 6 0 1 1 2

Awards and honors

Award Year
USHL Defenseman of the Year 2007–08 [5]
All-Hockey East First Team 2009–10 [5]
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2009–10
All-Hockey East First Team 2010–11 [6]
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2010–11

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 UNH Men's Ice Hockey Website: Blake Kessel
  2. ↑ Player's Profile: Blake Kessel
  3. ↑ New York Islanders Website: Blake Kessel
  4. ↑ "Kessel and Lukacevic bring experience to Condorstown". Bakersfield Condors. October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Blake Kessel player biography". University of New Hampshire. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  6. ↑ "Hockey East First-Team All-Stars". Hockey East. 2011-03-04. Retrieved 2011-03-04.

External links