John Van Kessel
Encyclopedia
John Van Kessel is a former Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. Van Kessel played ten professional seasons, in the American Hockey League
(AHL), East Coast Hockey League(ECHL) and International Hockey League (IHL) in North America, and in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and Austrian Hockey League
(AL) in Europe.
for the Belleville Bulls
and the North Bay Centennials
. After the 1987–88 season, he was drafted in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft
in the third round, 49th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
. He would play two further seasons of junior before debuting in professional play with the New Haven Nighthawks
after his junior season ended in 1989–90. He then joined the Phoenix Roadrunners
of the IHL where he played two seasons. In the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft, Van Kessel was selected by the Ottawa Senators
of the NHL in the second and last draft by an NHL team of his rights. He would play in the AHL
and ECHL until 1996 when he moved to Europe to play. He first played in Slovenia
, for Sportina Bled HK. He then moved in 1997 to Germany
to play for the DEG
in Düsseldorf and other teams in the DEL. He played one more season in the DEL, with the Krefeld Penguins. He did not play for two seasons then played a three-games tryout with Zeltweg EC of the Austrian League in 2001–02 to end his professional career.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. Van Kessel played ten professional seasons, in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL), East Coast Hockey League(ECHL) and International Hockey League (IHL) in North America, and in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and Austrian Hockey League
Austrian Hockey League
The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:...
(AL) in Europe.
Playing career
Van Kessel played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey LeagueOntario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
for the Belleville Bulls
Belleville Bulls
The Belleville Bulls are a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.-History:...
and the North Bay Centennials
North Bay Centennials
The North Bay Centennials were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, who played from 1982–2002. The team was based in North Bay, Ontario.-History:...
. After the 1987–88 season, he was drafted in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft
1988 NHL Entry Draft
The 1988 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft...
in the third round, 49th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He would play two further seasons of junior before debuting in professional play with the New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
after his junior season ended in 1989–90. He then joined the Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL)
The Phoenix Roadrunners were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. The team was housed at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team played in the IHL from 1989 to 1997. The IHL Roadrunners were named for a World Hockey Association team of the same name...
of the IHL where he played two seasons. In the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft, Van Kessel was selected by the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHL in the second and last draft by an NHL team of his rights. He would play in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and ECHL until 1996 when he moved to Europe to play. He first played in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, for Sportina Bled HK. He then moved in 1997 to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to play for the DEG
DEG Metro Stars
The DEG Metro Stars is a German professional ice hockey team in Düsseldorf. It was Germany's most successful hockey club for a long time and had many international players...
in Düsseldorf and other teams in the DEL. He played one more season in the DEL, with the Krefeld Penguins. He did not play for two seasons then played a three-games tryout with Zeltweg EC of the Austrian League in 2001–02 to end his professional career.