In February, Amanda Kessel helped the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team win the Silver Medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Now, she’s accepted a job to work for the Pittsburgh Penguins Front Office in an internship role. She will be rotated through various departments in the Front Office that includes the production, hockey operations, marketing, and partnerships departments. Kessel, who had a successful college hockey career, has been a part of the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team at the Olympics three times and has led the team to three medals, which includes the 2018 Gold Medal in Pyeongchang. Kessel’s resume made her a perfect choice for this first-of-its-kind opportunity.
Amanda Kessel was a standout star in high school. She helped lead Shattuck-St. Mary’s to a national title in her Freshman season. Then, in her Junior year Kessel scored 67 points in 34 games and once again led her school to a national title. In her senior season, Kessel scored 122 points (goals plus assists).
After putting up impressive numbers in high school, Amanda Kessel decided to continue her education at the University of Minnesota, where she played for the Golden Gophers hockey team. In her Freshman season, Kessel led the team in points (50) and assists (31) in 36 games. She also won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Year. Kessel won the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award for the best female collegiate player in the nation in her Junior season. Kessel took a couple years off before returning for her senior season in 2015/16. She helped lead the Golden Gophers to 3 Division One National Titles in her four seasons. They won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, and then the 2016 title in her senior season.
Amanda Kessel has played two professional seasons in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). She played for the New York/Metropolitan Riveters. She was a team captain (Team Kessel) in the 2016/17 NWHL All-Star Game, and won All-Star Game MVP. She played in 13 games in the 2018/19 season and scored 2 goals with 15 assists for the Riveters.
Amanda Kessel is best known for her time representing Team USA at international competitions. She helped the U.S. win Gold at the 2013, 2017, and 2019 World Championships. They also won Silver at the 2012 and 2021 World Championships. Kessel also played for the U.S. Hockey team at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Winter Olympics. The 2018 team won Gold, while the 2014 and 2022 teams claimed Silver.
Amanda Kessel shared her excitement when she found out that the Pittsburgh Penguins decided to hire her for an internship working in their Front Office. Kessel expressed that she never really thought about what she would do after her hockey playing days were over. She also said that she wasn’t sure that coaching would be the right fit for her. One of her goals was to eventually work in a front office/management role, but wasn’t sure if there would ever be that opportunity for her. Kessel has not ruled out returning to play, but she said she is excited for this new role.
The Pittsburgh Penguins CEO David Morehouse said that he hopes other teams in the NHL take notice of the Penguins’ first-of-its-kind Executive Management Program, and that those teams adopt similar programs to advance diversity in the NHL.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued a statement of approval to the Associated Press that reads “it has been a priority of us at the league’s level, and at the clubs to make sure we’re creating a more welcoming, inclusive environment to bring people of all backgrounds, beliefs and orientations in the game in whatever capacity that suits their skills, whether it’s playing or being an executive.” he added “I think it’s wonderful.”
For a sport like hockey, where there aren’t the same opportunities for women as other sports offer, the Penguins hiring Kessel is a big first step for Kessel, obviously, but it is also a big first step for the NHL and the hockey community at-large when it comes to promoting gender diversity in the game.
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