Phil Kessel Joins WPT Global as Brand Ambassador

Former National Hockey League (NHL) star Phil Kessel has been announced as the new brand ambassador for WPT Global. Kessel, who enjoyed a successful 17-year career in the NHL, is set to make his debut as a representative at the WPT Playground Festival, to be held near Montreal starting October 14.

Although Kessel hails from the United States, he developed a strong affinity for Canada during his six-year tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He now spends a significant amount of his time in Canada and will lead WPT Global’s new ‘Team Canada’ initiative. Kessel is already a well-recognized name in the Canadian poker community, having been an avid poker fan and player for two decades. He is also a regular participant at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) most summers.

Kessel spent the final season of his NHL career with the Las Vegas Golden Knights. It was there his friendship with poker superstar and Golden Knights enthusiast Daniel Negreanu deepened. “I’m incredibly excited to work with WPT Global. I have been an avid poker player for over 20 years, and a huge fan of the World Poker Tour,” Kessel stated. “I can’t wait to kick-off this relationship in Montreal and bring some cool experiences to fans.”

WPT Global’s president, Alex Scott, expressed delight at Kessel’s appointment, saying, “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Phil to the WPT Global brand. Phil has not only excelled as a world-class ice hockey player but is also a huge poker enthusiast who embodies the values we hold dear. He’s engaging, passionate, and always striving to improve — qualities that make him a perfect fit for the WPT Global poker community.”

Beyond his hockey accolades, Kessel won a silver medal with the USA team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Among WPT Global’s initial promotions featuring Kessel is the Ironman Tournament set for late November. This will be an invite-only event, though new players can access it by registering with the ‘IRONKESSEL81’ promo code, and existing players can qualify through other avenues.

The Ironman Tournament serves to honor Kessel’s remarkable NHL ironman streak, where he played 1,064 consecutive regular-season games through the 2022-23 season. At 37, Kessel wasn’t on an NHL roster last season, gently transitioning into this new professional chapter without ending his streak. Apart from this, he has been part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams and has scored over 400 goals in his career, placing him among the top American-born players in NHL history.