Phil Kessel's legendary ironman run began with overcoming testicular cancer.
Phil Kessel is an absolute legend. Not only because he possesses one of the best wristers the game has ever seen, but also because his lovable personality has endeared him to teammates, fans and poker dealers everywhere.
But right when it was all beginning, Kessel was hit with devastating news: at 19, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Luckily, Kessel moved fast when he felt a lump, and doctors treated him quickly. His father, Phil Kessel Sr., even pointed out to THN senior writer Mike Brophy that had Kessel still been in college, he may have put his suspicions on the back burner – being in an NHL environment with the Boston Bruins forced Kessel to make a mature decision.
Kessel made a full recovery, and, at the end of the 2006-07 season, he was named the recipient of the Masterton Award for perseverance. He went on to claim two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and one with the Golden Knights – and, in late 2022, he became the NHL’s ironman, with 990 consecutive games played – a number that swelled to 1,064 by the end of 2022-23.
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