Amanda Kessel

Before high school, Kessel played boys' youth hockey for the Madison Capitols, winning state and regional championships in the 2005–06 season. Kessel attended high school at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, where she played for their girls' team. In 2007, she and Shattuck won the under-19 national championship, capping off a season in which Kessel had 102 points in 56 games. They repeated as national champions in her junior year, which saw her score 44 goals and 100 points in 34 games. As a senior, she led Shattuck with 122 points on the strength of 67 goals in just 46 games, doubling the next highest scorer's 61 points.{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Emily |title=Amanda Kessel is a typical 26-year-old -- who also happens to be an elite hockey player |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/22287199/olympics-amanda-kessel-typical-26-year-old-happens-elite-hockey-player |website=ESPN |access-date=August 19, 2024 |date=February 2, 2018}}

In her first game with the University of Minnesota, a 5–0 blanking of Clarkson University on October 1, 2010, Kessel registered two goals and two assists.{{cite news|last1=USCHO Staff Report|title=Kessel posts 4 points as Minnesota blanks Clarkson|url=http://www.uscho.com/recaps/2010/10/01/kessel-posts-4-points-as-minnesota-blanks-clarkson/|access-date=July 13, 2014|publisher=USCHO|date=October 1, 2010|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406133926/https://www.uscho.com/recaps/2010/10/01/kessel-posts-4-points-as-minnesota-blanks-clarkson/|url-status=live}} The following day, Kessel scored the game-winning goal as the Gophers won by a 3–0 score.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

• November 18, 2010: Kessel registered five points (including four goals{{cite web |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/recaps/111811aaa.html |title=Gophers Win 11–0 Against New Hampshire – University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site |publisher=Gophersports.com |access-date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626205247/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/recaps/111811aaa.html |archive-date=June 26, 2018 |url-status=dead }}) as the Golden Gophers defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats by an 11–0 tally. This was the worst loss in the 35-year history of the Wildcats program.{{cite web|url=http://unhwildcats.com/sports/wice/2011-12/releases/20111118v4lz74 |title=University of New Hampshire Official Athletics Website:Gilligan Records 27 Saves In Two Periods; Women's Hockey Loses 11–0 At No. 2 Minnesota |publisher=UNHWildcats.com |date=November 18, 2011 |access-date=December 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303164052/http://unhwildcats.com/sports/wice/2011-12/releases/20111118v4lz74 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 }}
• November 19: Kessel earned her second hat trick of the series as the Gophers defeated New Hampshire by a 6–1 tally.{{cite web |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/recaps/111911aaa.html |title=Kessel Gets Second Hat Trick of the Weekend, Gophers Sweep New Hampshire – University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site |publisher=Gophersports.com |date=November 19, 2011 |access-date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524054501/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/recaps/111911aaa.html |archive-date=May 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
• September 10, 2014, the Golden Gophers announced that Kessel would sit out the 2014–15 season as a result of lingering concussion symptoms she had sustained while playing for Team USA.{{Cite news|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/09/10/amanda-kessel-concussion-usa-hockey/15396081/|title = U.S. hockey player out for college season with concussion|date = September 10, 2014|work = USA Today|access-date = September 10, 2014|archive-date = September 11, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911060104/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/09/10/amanda-kessel-concussion-usa-hockey/15396081/|url-status = live}}
• July 21, 2015: the Golden Gophers announced that Kessel would not be playing hockey for the 2015–16 season for health reasons. Because she had previously taken a redshirt year on two prior occasions, she will no longer be eligible to play college hockey.{{Cite news|url = http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/3801070-womens-hockey-gopher-star-kessel-wont-play-senior-season|title = Gopher star Kessel won't play senior season|last = Schlossman|first = Brad Elliott|date = July 21, 2015|work = Grand Forks Herald|access-date = July 21, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024632/http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/3801070-womens-hockey-gopher-star-kessel-wont-play-senior-season|archive-date = September 24, 2015|url-status = dead}}
• February 3, 2016: The Golden Gophers announced that Kessel returned to the team. Despite earlier prognoses, she continued working to gain clearance from doctors to play hockey and succeeded late in the 2015–2016 season in time for the February 5–6 series against North Dakota.{{Cite news|url = https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/amanda-kessel--concussion-free--set-to-return-to-minnesota-lineup-215108748.html|title = Amanda Kessel, concussion-free, set to return to Minnesota lineup|last = Leahy|first = Sean|date = February 3, 2016|work = Yahoo! Sports|access-date = February 3, 2016|archive-date = February 3, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203233423/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/amanda-kessel--concussion-free--set-to-return-to-minnesota-lineup-215108748.html|url-status = live}}

Kessel was never drafted by a National Women's Hockey League team; league rules stipulate that a college player must be entering her senior year to be drafted, and Kessel's junior season was completed in 2013 before the league existed. Instead, she signed as a free agent with the New York Riveters on May 1, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/amanda-kessel-signs-one-year-deal-with-nhwl-s-new-york-riveters-194022119.html|title=Amanda Kessel signs one-year deal with NHWL's New York Riveters|date=May 2016 |access-date=January 14, 2017|archive-date=February 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215033119/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/amanda-kessel-signs-one-year-deal-with-nhwl-s-new-york-riveters-194022119.html|url-status=live}} Her contract of $26,000 was the largest NWHL contract to date. Kessel was named one of the two captains for the 2nd NWHL All-Star Game. Scoring a hat trick in the All-Star Game, the first to do so in NWHL All-Star history, she would also be recognized as the game's Most Valuable Player.{{cite web|url= http://www.nwhl.zone/news_article/show/757347?referrer_id=2739439|title= NWHL Stars Shine Bright in Pittsburgh|publisher= NWHL|date= February 13, 2017|access-date= February 14, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170215022834/http://www.nwhl.zone/news_article/show/757347?referrer_id=2739439|archive-date= February 15, 2017|url-status= dead}} After taking a season off from the NWHL due to national team commitments, she returned to the NWHL with the renamed Metropolitan Riveters for the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/team-usa-olympic-gold-medalist-amanda-kessel-returns-to-the-riveters/n-5343695 |title=Team USA Olympic Gold Medalist Amanda Kessel Returns to the Riveters |website=OurSportsCentral.com |date=June 4, 2018 |access-date=June 4, 2018 |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921225942/https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/team-usa-olympic-gold-medalist-amanda-kessel-returns-to-the-riveters/n-5343695 |url-status=live }}

Following the 2018–19 season, Kessel was one of many players to join the boycott on North American women's hockey leagues and join the new players' union, the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), to push for better support of women's hockey. She was named a team captain at the January 2020 Toronto showcase.{{cite web |url=https://www.theicegarden.com/2020/1/10/21056633/secret-womens-hockey-showcase-headlines-busy-weekend-for-pwhpa-toronto |title=Secret Showcase headlines busy weekend for PWHPA |website=SB Nation |date=January 10, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016091936/https://www.theicegarden.com/2020/1/10/21056633/secret-womens-hockey-showcase-headlines-busy-weekend-for-pwhpa-toronto |url-status=live }}

Skating for Team New Hampshire during the 2020–21 PWHPA season, Kessel participated in a PWHPA Dream Gap Tour event at New York's Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2021, the first women's ice hockey event at the venue.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/hockey/2021/02/28/pwhpa-womens-hockey-game-make-history-madison-square-garden/6860738002/|title=PWHPA Dream Gap Tour hits Madison Square Garden ice for historic women's game|website=USA Today|author=Analis Bailey|date=February 28, 2021|access-date=March 2, 2021|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302231602/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/hockey/2021/02/28/pwhpa-womens-hockey-game-make-history-madison-square-garden/6860738002/|url-status=live}} Playing for a team sponsored by the Women's Sports Foundation, Kessel recorded a goal and an assist in a 4–3 win,{{cite web |url=https://www.theicegarden.com/2021/3/1/22305978/2021-secret-dream-gap-tour-recap-new-york-city-womens-hockey-pwhpa |title=2021 Secret Dream Gap Tour recap: New York City |website=SB Nation |date=March 1, 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916225038/https://www.theicegarden.com/2021/3/1/22305978/2021-secret-dream-gap-tour-recap-new-york-city-womens-hockey-pwhpa |url-status=live }} earning the Second Star of the Game.

As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, Kessel has won a medal at all the international tournaments she has participated in:{{cite web|title=Team USA – Amanda Kessel|url=http://olympics.usahockey.com/page/show/1086003-amanda-kessel|website=USA Hockey|access-date=July 13, 2014|archive-date=August 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829153754/http://olympics.usahockey.com/page/show/1086003-amanda-kessel|url-status=live}}

• Silver medalist at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China
• Gold medalist at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship in Espoo, Finland
• Gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea
• Gold medalist at the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship in Plymouth, Michigan
• Silver medalist at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia
• Gold medalist at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Silver medalist at the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship in Burlington, Vermont
• Gold medalist at the 2011 and 2012 Four Nations Cup

Before being named to the U.S. Women's National Team, Kessel was a member of the United States Under-22 Team and Under-18 Team. Kessel played for the United States Under-18 in 2009 and was named the World Under-18 tournament's most valuable forward. She scored six goals and 13 assists for 19 points to lead Team USA to a gold medal. In the 2008 Under 18 World Championships, she played in five games with Team USA and tallied 11 points, ranking third among all players in scoring. Kessel was named to the US team participating in the 2010 Four Nations Cup. She did not play due to an injury.{{cite web |url=http://www.canadianhockey.ca/index.php/ci_id/75136/la_id/1/player_id/116583/profile_id/147644 |title=The Official Website of Hockey Canada |publisher=Canadianhockey.ca |access-date=December 4, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On April 20, 2022, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that Kessel would be the first member of their Executive Management Program,{{cite news |title=Penguins Name Amanda Kessel First Hire of Executive Management Program |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-name-amanda-kessel-first-participant-of-new-penguins-executive-management-program/c-333213516 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=Pittsburgh Penguins |date=April 20, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420160633/https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-name-amanda-kessel-first-participant-of-new-penguins-executive-management-program/c-333213516 |url-status=live }} a one-year fellowship designed to give women and minority groups administrative expertise in preparation for a job in NHL management.{{cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |title=Three-time U.S. Olympic medalist Amanda Kessel joining Pittsburgh Penguins for one-year fellowship |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33772110/three-us-olympic-medalist-amanda-kessel-joining-pittsburgh-penguins-one-year-fellowship |work=ESPN |date=April 20, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420144753/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33772110/three-us-olympic-medalist-amanda-kessel-joining-pittsburgh-penguins-one-year-fellowship |url-status=live }} She earned a promotion on August 4, 2023 when she was named as a Special Assistant to the Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Kyle Dubas. While her previous role saw her learning multiple facets of the team's day-to-day operations, including marketing and public relations, her new role is focused solely on hockey operations and club management with a focus on research and development as well as minor league operations.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=Penguins Announce Hockey Operations Promotions {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-announce-hockey-operations-promotions-345512606 |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614002702/https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-announce-hockey-operations-promotions-345512606 |url-status=live }}

Kessel was selected by PWHL Montreal in the 2024 PWHL draft. Various outlets reported that she was only willing to play for Boston despite the league requiring prospective draftees to be willing to play for any team, prompting speculation that she might be traded. On August 19, 2024, she was promoted by the Penguins to manager of minor league operations and assistant general manager of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. {{As of|2024|August|19|alt=Since the announcement}}, it has not been announced whether she will play for Montreal or work for the Penguins.{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Ian |title=Kessel To Stay With Pittsburgh Penguins Taking On AHL Assistant General Manager Job |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/other-news/amanda-kessel-to-stay-with-pittsburgh-penguins-wont-play-in-pwhl |website=The Hockey News |access-date=August 19, 2024 |date=August 19, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Lorange |first1=Simon-Olivier |title=Ligue professionnelle de hockey féminin: Amanda Kessel semble s'éloigner de Montréal |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2024-08-19/ligue-professionnelle-de-hockey-feminin/amanda-kessel-semble-s-eloigner-de-montreal.php |work=La Presse |access-date=August 21, 2024 |language=fr-CA |date=August 19, 2024}}

Kessel is the sister of three-time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel and former ice hockey defenseman Blake Kessel{{cite news|last1=Duhatschek|first1=Eric|title=Kessel siblings aim to bring home double Olympic hockey gold|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/kessel-siblings-aim-to-bring-home-double-olympic-hockey-gold/article16965759/|access-date=April 24, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|date=February 19, 2014|archive-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425031819/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/kessel-siblings-aim-to-bring-home-double-olympic-hockey-gold/article16965759/|url-status=live}}

Her father, Phil Kessel Sr., was drafted by the Washington Redskins and stayed on the injured reserve for one year.{{cite web|url=http://m.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Great-Redskins-Drafts-A-Look-At-1981/7F1D7041-778B-4234-9AC2-C3F3229B297F|title=Great Redskins Drafts: A Look At 1981|last=Fitzgerald|first=Gary|date=April 25, 2012|website=redskins.com|publisher=Redskins|access-date=April 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042027/http://m.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Great-Redskins-Drafts-A-Look-At-1981/7F1D7041-778B-4234-9AC2-C3F3229B297F|archive-date=December 5, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

In 2019, Kessel paired with Eric Radford for the fifth season of CBC's Battle of the Blades, where hockey players paired with figure skaters to compete for their chosen charity. However, she and Radford were the first pair eliminated.

Kessel became engaged to her partner, Catherine Williams, on August 21, 2024.{{Cite Instagram |postid=7xFrmuK7h |user=amandakessel28 |title=A new rock in front of the Faraglioni rocks |date=August 21, 2024 |first=Amanda |last=Kessel |access-date=August 21, 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Ice hockey stats}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180627002120/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/mtt/amanda_kessel_760156.html Amanda Kessel] at Minnesota Golden Gophers
• {{Olympics.com profile|amanda-kessel}}
• {{Sports-reference}}
• {{Twitter}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:American women's ice hockey forwards

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