Good one, Phil.
Presumably, at least, that's what the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame told the longtime Toronto Maple Leaf and Team USA member of his career when informing him he was set to be inducted.
Kessel will go in alongside sister Amanda, NHLers T.J. Oshie and Ryan Suter and athletic trainer Stan Wong, the museum announced Thursday.
"You don't have to look far in our sport to find someone whose life was touched by one of these five," president of USA Hockey Mike Trimboli said in a statement. "Their extraordinary contributions will be felt for generations to come, and it is with great pride that we welcome them among the all-time greats of the sport in our country."
The enshrinement ceremony is set to take place Nov. 30 in Washington, D.C.
Phil Kessel, of Madison, Wisc., enjoyed a long and decorated NHL career, winning three Stanley Cups and setting the iron-man record of 1,064 consecutive games.
He also captured the Masterton Trophy in his rookie season after overcoming testicular cancer to play 70 games for the Boston Bruins. His high-water marks as an individual came across six seasons with the Maple Leafs despite a much-maligned trade, but it wasn't until he was dealt again to the Pittsburgh Penguins that he found team success as an integral part of two championship teams.
Kessel appeared in two Olympics for Team USA, securing silver in 2010 and being named top forward in 2014.
His sister, Amanda, had even greater success internationally, capturing three Olympics medals including one gold and four world titles to go with three silver.
Over 43 career world-championship contests, Amanda Kessel racked up 20 goals and 39 assists.
Oshie goes down in Team USA lore for his shootout heroics during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi despite the team's ultimate fourth-place finish. After a long career with the St. Louis Blues in the NHL, he moved to the Washington Capitals, where he helped the franchise win its first Stanley Cup title.
He finished his career with 1,010 NHL games, compiling 302 goals and 393 assists.
Suter was a staple on NHL blue lines across 1,526 games and 20 seasons, which ranks second among all Americans.
He also competed on the 2010 Olympic team alongside Kessel that won silver after helping lead the U.S. to its first world-junior gold in 2004.
Wong, of Fall River, Mass., began working in hockey in 1986 with the Capitals and has served as the athletic trainer of the U.S. world juniors team every year since 2003 as well as every Olympic team between 2006 and 2022.
