Amanda Kessel, the Penguins’ Director of Minor League Operations and Assistant General Manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as well as her brother, Penguins Alumnus and Stanley Cup Champion, Phil Kessel, have been elected to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026, it was announced today.
Amanda, 35, had an exceptional international playing career, as she has represented the United States at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Olympic Winter Games, bringing home a gold medal in 2018 and silver medals in 2014 and 2022. She has also represented the U.S. at multiple other tournaments, including seven IIHF World Championship teams, four Four-Nations Cups and two Under-18 Women’s World Championships. In total, she has brought home seven gold medals on the international stage.
In addition to her Olympic experience, Kessel played two seasons in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) from 2016-19, appearing in the 2017 NWHL All-Star Game as team captain (Team Kessel) where she was named MVP of the event which was held at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Amanda enjoyed a four-year collegiate playing career at the University of Minnesota. She led them to three Division I National Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2016 and was awarded the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award given to the top female college ice hockey player in the United States. Prior to her collegiate career, Kessel attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s – the same prep school that produced Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby.
Amanda is entering her fourth season with the Penguins in a hockey operations management role. In her current role, she assists with all matters involving the WBS Penguins (AHL) and oversees the Penguins' minor league affiliate in the ECHL (Florida) to ensure seamless communication between Pittsburgh and its member clubs. Amanda’s role in management has grown each season with the club and last year she oversaw both minor league affiliates reaching the Conference Finals in the American Hockey League and ECHL.
Phil, 38, was selected fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Draft and went on to play 17 NHL seasons, recording 992 points (413G-579A) in 1,286 career NHL games played with Boston, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Arizona and Vegas. Phil achieved career highs in points (92) and assists (58) in 2017-18 with the Penguins, and his career high of 37 goals came in both 2011-12 and 2013-14 with the Maple Leafs. During his playoff career, he registered 34 goals, 49 assists and 83 points in 100 games and won three Stanley Cups (Pittsburgh in 2016, ’17 and Vegas in ‘23). In addition to his three Stanley Cups, Phil was a three-time NHL All-Star, and he became the first rookie to win the Masterton Trophy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2006. He currently holds the NHL record for most consecutive regular season games played with 1,064, spanning from Nov. 3, 2009 to April 13, 2023.
Phil spent four seasons with the Penguins (2015-19), collecting 303 points (110G-193A) in 328 games. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he ranked first on the team in games played (328), second in assists (193) and points (303) and third in goals (110). Phil also ranked tied for first in playoff games played (65), tied for second in playoff assists (36), third in playoff points (56) and fourth in playoff goals (20). During the team’s 2016 Stanley Cup run, he teamed up with Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino, forming the legendary “HBK Line.” The trio combined for 56 points (20G-36A) in the 2016 playoffs, and Phil’s 22 points and 10 goals led the team. In the 2017 playoffs, Kessel collected 23 points (8G-15A), ranking third on the team in points and assists and tied for third in goals.
A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Phil represented the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, bringing home a silver medal in 2010 and was tied for first in points (8) and goals (5) among all Olympic skaters in 2014. He also competed in the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2005 and 2006, leading the tournament in assists (10) and points (11) in 2006. During his tenure in the NHL, Phil ranked third in points and assists and fourth in goals among American skaters.
