Michael Kesselring
| Michael Kesselring | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_by_Sandro_Halank%E2%80%93034.jpg) Kesselring in 2025 | |||
| Born |
January 13, 2000 Florence, South Carolina, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position |
Defense | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Utah Hockey Club | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL draft |
164th overall, 2018 Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Michael Alan Kesselring (born January 13, 2000) is an American professional
Playing career
Kesselring played high school hockey for the New Hampton School within the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council before spending the conclusion of the 2017–18 season with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In his first year of eligibility, with standout physical attributes and strong hockey sense, Kesselring was selected by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the sixth round, 164th overall, of the 2018 NHL entry draft.[1]
In his only full season in the USHL in 2018–19, Kesselring split the season between the Buccaneers and the Fargo Force before committing to a collegiate career with Northeastern University of the Hockey East.
During his sophomore season in the NCAA, Kesselring opted to conclude his collegiate career and turn professional for the remainder of the 2020–21 season, signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers on March 22, 2021.[2] Appearing with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, on an amateur tryout basis, Kesselring collected three points through 21 regular season games and making six post-season appearances. In his first full professional season in 2021–22, Kesselring established himself on the Condors blueline, registering 2 goals and 13 points through 55 regular season games.[3]
Continuing with the Condors in his third season in the AHL in 2022–23 season, Kesselring showed offensive development by scoring 13 goals and 22 points through only 49 games with Bakersfield. Approaching the NHL trade deadline, Kesselring was traded by the Oilers along with a 2023 third-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen on March 2, 2023.[4] He was immediately recalled by the Coyotes and made his NHL debut the following day in a 6–1 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes at Mullett Arena.[5][6] He was reassigned the following day to the Coyotes AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, on March 4, 2023.[7]
At the completion of the 2024–25 season, Kesselring was traded by the rebranded Utah Mammoth, along with Josh Doan, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for JJ Peterka on June 25, 2025.[8]
Personal life
Kesselring was born at a hospital in Florence, South Carolina,[9] the son of Casey and Shawndra Kesselring. His father, Casey, played professional hockey at the ECHL level and has served as a minor, high school and junior head coach since 2003. Michael was coached by his father during his high school tenure with New Hampton School.[10] His younger brother, Mason, currently plays junior hockey with the Coquitlam Express in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and is committed to play at the University of Connecticut.[11]
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing United States
| ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2025 Sweden/Denmark | |
Kesselring represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded one goal and three assists in ten games and helped Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933.[12]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | New Hampton School | USHS | 36 | 3 | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | New Hampton School | USHS | 40 | 5 | 11 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | New Hampton School | USHS | 30 | 8 | 20 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | New Hampton School | USHS | 38 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 33 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Fargo Force | USHL | 33 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Northeastern University | HE | 34 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Northeastern University | HE | 20 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 55 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 49 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 65 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Utah Hockey Club
|
NHL | 82 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 156 | 12 | 41 | 53 | 161 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | United States | WC | 5th | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | United States | WC | 
|
10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| Senior totals | 17 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | ||||
References
- ^ "Dev Camp: Kesselring was at his lake house when drafted by Oilers". Edmonton Oilers. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ^ "Oilers sign Michael Kesselring to entry-level contract". Edmonton Oilers. March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ "There's one huge advantage for Oilers big d-man prospect Michael Kesselring". Edmonton Journal. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Coyotes get pick, Kesselring from Oilers for Bjugstad, Dineen". Arizona Coyotes. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Coyotes trade deadline wrap". Arizona Coyotes. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Aho, Ghostisbehere lead Hurricanes to 6-1 win over Coyotes". USA Today. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Coyotes assign Kelemen, Kesselring and Kolyachonok to Tucson". Tucson Roadrunners. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Sabres acquire Kesselring, Doan from Mammoth". Buffalo Sabres. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "Kesselring Son". Florence Morning News. January 30, 2000. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Casey Kesselring team staff profile". eliteprospects.com. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Mason Kesselring player profile". eliteprospects.com. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Zaccardi, Nick (May 25, 2025). "U.S. men's hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database