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And for those who don't know, Phil Kessel is this year's Sidney Crosby:

2006 eligible Phil Kessel meets expectations

Written by Simon Richard on 01/01/2005

He is only 17, but there is already a lot of pressure on him because this golden boy has made a name for himself, accumulating both exploits and great numbers.

He is an American playing right now in his homeland, trying to defend the only gold medal ever won by the USA at the WJC.

His name is Phil Kessel. He has taken the pressure so far at the 2005 World Junior Championship in stride.

One of the best U.S. players

On December 25th, with a local crowd already shouting ‘USA USA, USA’, coach Scott Sandelin placed the youngest member of his team on the ice for the opening faceoff of the first U.S. game of the tournament against Russia.

"I was shoulder to shoulder with [Alexander] Ovechkin on the ice. I was a little nervous out there," told Kessel to Hockey’s Future after that game. "It was unbelievable."

The U.S. team won that opening game 5-4. Kessel played on regular shifts mostly with Drew Stafford and Dan Fritsche. He also played on power plays. Overall, he played very well.

Kessel was enraptured by both the experience and the atmosphere after that game. "It was a great game, a great atmosphere and wow, the pace was very fast," he commented.

"You know, these are the best players in the world. It has been a great game."

Asked how he felt to be part of this team, Kessel answered "It is an honor, a great honor to be part of it, I’m happy to be on this team having the opportunity to meet the likes of [Evgeni] Malkin and Ovechkin."

In the following U.S. game, Kessel showed his exceptional genius on ice while he beat a Swiss defenseman one-on-one and before sending a pass right on the tape to Kevin Porter for an easy goal.

"He played well against Russia, he played well against Swiss," commented the U.S. assistant coach David Quinn, adding that Kessel was growing with the tournament.

"His best games are yet to come," told Quinn to HF before the game against Belarus.

Quinn was exactly right.

In the stunning 5-3 lost against Belarus, the Madison, Wis. native had seven shots on goal in just the first period, including one goal. Never quitting, he added two shots in the third while the U.S. worked to avoid the defeat. Kessel was named the best player of that game for USA.

Finally, the high touted 2006 eligible was again undoubtedly one of the best players for USA in the game against Czech Republic. He set great passes and worked physically. He certainly could have won the game player award in that game as well.

Compared to Crosby

The 6’0, 185-pound Kessel has been compared several times to the Canadian Sidney Crosby.

Even David Quinn has made the connection, telling HF in the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks "He is here because he deserves to be here, he is gone to realize how good he is.

"He is our Sidney Crosby."

As Crosby, Kessel accumulated remarkable statistics while playing in minor hockey.

He tallied 286 points (176-110) with the Madison Capitals Bantam AAA team in 86 games in 2001-02, placing his team second at the USA Bantam National Championship.

The following season, Kessel recorded in 71 games played, 113 goals and 45 assists for 158 points with the Madison (Wis.) Capitals Major team.

He may well follow Crosby as the first NHL draftee overall in 2006. Like Crosby, he has some good genes, both having a father who was an athlete before.

Crosby’s father Troy was a good junior hockey goalkeeper. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1984. Kessel’s father, Phil, was a quarterback for Northern Michigan University and was drafted as well by a professional team, the NFL Washington Redskins.

He has chosen the NTDP

Kessel is playing his second season with the USA National Team Development program.

As of December 6th, he was leading the program with 27 points (15-12) in 11 games. The previous season, he had 82 points (52-30) in 62 games.

In April 2004, he helped his team to win the silver medal at the Under-18 World Championship held in Minsk, Belarus. He scored seven goals, leading all goal scorers along with the Slovak Roman Tomanek.

The OHL’s Saginaw Spirit owns the rights on Kessel in the CHL.

"I talked to them a little bit but I then chose the NTDP because I thought it was the way to go for me," stated Kessel.

Kessel explained his decision. "It is the best program that fits to me. There are workouts four times a week, there are great coaches too."

Kessel is in his last year at the NTDP. He told HF that he has not thought yet what will be his option for the next season, which could in fact be his last before playing in the NHL.

David Quinn comments on Kessel

The U.S. assistant coach of the U-20 team David Quinn has coached for two seasons the U.S. National the U-17. He knows Kessel pretty well.

"I saw him grow last year. He now looks bigger. He was a kid last year and if he is not quite a man yet, he is turning into a man," observed Quinn after a team practice.

Quinn commented on the main qualities of Kessel. "The first thing is that he’s got a world class speed. The puck does not slow him down, he is as fast with the puck as without it. It is a unique ability."

The U.S. assistant coach also mentions that Kessel has a great hockey sense. "He passes the puck very well and shoots the puck as fast as anybody that I have seen."