| abstract | - Rick Kessell (born Jul 27, 1949) in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins and California Golden Seals. Drafted 15th overall by the Penguins in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, Kessell played 135 regular season games, scoring 4 goals and 24 assists for 28 career points. One of his only 4 goals would come on March 21, 1970 during his first NHL game. Kessell played junior for the Toronto Marlboros, Oshawa Generals, and the London Knights. He split the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons between the minor pros and the Penguins. In 1972-73 he was a regular for the Penguins but the next season he was accquired by the California Golden Seals in the Reverse Draft. He played 1973-74 for the Seals, primarily as a penalty killer. He went back to the minors for two seasons, then joined the senior Whitby Warriors in 1976 for two seasons. Kessell sat out the 1978-79 season and then played two more seasons for Georgetown's senior team. He retired in 1981.
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