Pinky Higgins
Third baseman
Born: (1909-05-27)May 27, 1909 Red Oak, Texas
Died: March 21, 1969(1969-03-21) (aged 59) Dallas, Texas
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 25, 1930 for the Philadelphia Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 1946 for the Boston Red Sox
Career statistics
Batting average	.292
Home runs	140
Runs batted in	1,075
Teams
As player Philadelphia Athletics (1930, 1933–1936) Boston Red Sox (1937–1938) Detroit Tigers (1939–1944, 1946) Boston Red Sox (1946) As manager Boston Red Sox (1955–1959, 1960–1962)
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star selection (1934, 1936, 1944)

Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins (May 27, 1909 – March 21, 1969) was an American third baseman, manager, front office executive and scout in Major League Baseball who played for three teams and served as manager or general manager of the Boston Red Sox during the period of 1955 through 1965. He batted and threw right-handed.

Playing career[link]

Higgins was born in Red Oak, Texas. He was nicknamed "Pinky" as a baby, and according to some reports, detested the name. Alternatively, he was identified by each of his given names. He signed some autographs as Frank Higgins, but was predominantly known as Mike, especially later in his career. Higgins graduated from W. H. Adamson High School in Dallas where he played on the 1926 state championship runner-up team. He attended the University of Texas at Austin before beginning his career with the Philadelphia Athletics on June 25, 1930. After having only 24 at bats that year, he did not play in the majors again until 1933 when he finally began to play full-time for the A's. In his rookie season of 1933, he batted .314, with 13 home runs and 99 RBIs. He hit for the cycle on August 3 in a 12–8 win over the Washington Senators. That season, his team finished third in the American League.

By 1938, when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for fellow third baseman Billy Werber, he was considered one of the better hitting third basemen in the league, having made the top in batting average in 1933 and 1934. In his two years with the Sox (1937, 1938), he batted over .300 with a career-high 106 RBIs in each year. In June 1938, Higgins set (and still holds) a major league record with base hits in 12 consecutive at bats. Higgins accomplished the feat over 14 plate appearances, because he also received two bases on balls during the streak. His mark was tied by Walt Dropo in 1952, who made his 12 straight knocks in 12 appearances, with no bases on balls in between.

He would next head to the Detroit Tigers in a trade for Elden Auker, where he would spend the majority of his playing career. It was also where his hitting numbers began to dissipate, but his power numbers still stayed fairly strong, but not in the same realm as his career-high of 23 homers back with Philadelphia in 1935.

Boston got Higgins back in mid-1946 and he was the team's regular third baseman as they won the AL pennant by 12 games (although they dropped the 1946 World Series). He was released by them at the end of the season and then retired to become a manager in the Red Sox farm system. His final numbers included a .292 batting average with 140 home runs and 1,075 RBIs. He accumulated 1,941 career hits in 6,636 at bats. He made the All-star game three times (1934, '36, '44).

Postseason[link]

Higgins played in two World Series: one with Detroit in 1940 and one with Boston in 1946. His team lost both, but Higgins had a .271 all-time batting average with 1 home run (DET) and 8 RBIs (6 DET, 2 BOS). He had 13 hits in 48 at bats.

Managing and front office career[link]

Manager[link]

Higgins started his managing career with the Class B Roanoke Red Sox of the Piedmont League in the Red Sox farm system in 1947. After eight seasons of managing in the minors — including four (1951–54) at the helm of the Red Sox' AAA affiliate, the Louisville Colonels of the American Association — he became Boston's skipper in 1955. Before taking the Red Sox promotion, Higgins was under consideration as a manager-in-waiting with the Baltimore Orioles, where fellow Texan and former Tiger teammate Paul Richards had just been installed as the O's general manager and field manager in September 1954.^[1]

Higgins' first team got off to a quick start, but faded late in the year, finishing fourth. Although he had winning, first division teams through 1958 and Ted Williams won two more batting titles (1957–58), the Red Sox never seriously contended — never finishing less than 12 games in arrears of the first-place New York Yankees. In 1959, with the 40-year-old Williams injured (and turning in the only sub-.300 season of his career), the Red Sox lost 42 of their first 73 games,^[2] and on July 3, Higgins was replaced as manager by Billy Jurges, a coach with the Washington Senators. Higgins then became a special assistant to owner Tom Yawkey, with whom he had become friends.

After a promising end to the 1959 season, Jurges' Red Sox plummeted into last place in the opening weeks of the 1960 campaign. Jurges was fired on June 10, 1960; then, after coach Del Baker handled the Red Sox for seven games, Higgins resumed his old job. However, the Red Sox continued to lose. Nevertheless, on September 30, 1960, Higgins was signed to a three-year contract extension as field manager, and given control of all playing personnel in the Boston organization — effectively adding the duties of general manager (without the formal title) to his managerial role.^[3]

Higgins formally hung up his uniform and joined Boston's front office full-time as executive vice president and general manager after the 1962 campaign, finishing his managerial career with a record of 560–556 (.502) in 1,119 games. His best finish was third place (1957-58), although his best winning percentage came in 1955 and 1956, when he ended both seasons with an 84–70 record, a .545 winning percentage (Boston finished fourth in each season).

He was 53 when he fully retired from managing. As a skipper, Higgins was known for being well liked by players and very laid back. He would not go out to the mound to talk to his pitcher very often and once said, "I don't believe in that business of walking out to the mound every time a pitcher's in trouble. You can't tell him anything new."

General manager[link]

Higgins' record as a general manager, like his managing record, was mediocre. Apart from swapping shortstops with Paul Richards' Houston Colt .45s—acquiring Eddie Bressoud for Don Buddin—Higgins made no significant trades during the two seasons (1961–62) he served as both manager and supervisor of playing personnel. Once he was named full-time general manager, in the autumn of 1962, Higgins made a few major trades, one of them netting slugger Dick Stuart, but they did not materially improve the club on the field. He made no further major deals until after the 1964 campaign, when he sent Stuart to the Philadelphia Phillies for left-handed starting pitcher Dennis Bennett, who suffered from a sore arm and would win only 12 games (losing 13) in 286⅓ innings pitched over 2½ seasons in a Boston uniform. Higgins also clashed with Johnny Pesky, who had been personally chosen by Yawkey as his managerial successor for 1963; by the end of the 1964 season, Higgins had pushed Pesky aside, replacing him with his own man, Billy Herman.

At the MLB level, the Red Sox continued to struggle, and in 1965 they lost 100 games for the only time during the Yawkey era. But meanwhile, in the minor leagues, the Red Sox—led by farm system director Neil Mahoney—were amassing talent (including African-American players such as Reggie Smith, George Scott and Joe Foy) that would lead to an improbable AL pennant in 1967.

Higgins, however, was finally ousted by Yawkey on September 16, 1965, ironically the day on which 21-year-old Boston right-hander Dave Morehead threw a no hitter. He then joined Houston as a scout, hired by Richards. It would be his last job in baseball.

Role in forestalling integration[link]

Red Sox historians often single out Higgins, along with Yawkey, when they discuss the root of the club's reputation for resisting racial integration. The Red Sox were the last of the then-16 major league teams to play an African American and fielded an all-white team from Jackie Robinson's debut in 1947 through Higgins' first managerial term. Higgins was quoted by one Boston baseball writer, the late Al Hirshberg, as saying, "There'll be no niggers on this ball club as long as I have anything to say about it."^[4] He also reportedly called sportswriter Clif Keane "a fucking nigger lover"^[5] upon hearing Keane praise the talents of outfielder Minnie Miñoso, a Cuban of African descent.

The Red Sox' first African-American player, utility infielder Pumpsie Green, was recalled from the minor leagues in July 1959, during Jurges' brief tenure as pilot.

However, Higgins had no control over the big league roster until he became Red Sox manager in 1955, and the club's hostility toward breaking the color line appeared to be in place well before then under Yawkey and his front office bosses, Eddie Collins and Joe Cronin.^[6]

When Higgins returned to his managerial post from mid-1960 through 1962, he managed an integrated roster, and did acquire a few nonwhite players (outfielders Roman Mejias, Lenny Green and Al Smith and infielders Felix Mantilla and Billy Harrell) during his GM tenure.

Death[link]

In February 1968, Higgins was arrested after killing one and injuring three others with his car. He suffered two heart attacks between the time of his conviction and sentencing. He pled guilty to driving while drunk, and was sentenced to four years, but was paroled after two months of his sentence.

One day after being paroled, he died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas at the age of 59.

See also[link]

• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
• Hitting for the cycle

References[link]

External links[link]

• Baseball-Reference.com - career playing stats and managing record
• Pinky Higgins at Find a Grave

Ryan Kesler
Born	(1984-08-31) August 31, 1984 (age 27) Livonia, MI, USA
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Vancouver Canucks
National team	United States
NHL Draft	23rd overall, 2003 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	2003–present

Ryan James Kesler (born August 31, 1984) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has spent his entire seven-year NHL career with the Canucks. He is best known for being a two-way forward, winning the Selke Trophy in 2011 after having finished as a finalist the previous two years, as well as for his agitating style of play.^[1][2]

Kesler played junior hockey with the U.S. National Team Development Program from which he then accepted a scholarship to play college hockey with the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). In one season with the Buckeyes, he was an honourable mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team and was named CCHA Rookie of the Week three times and CCHA Rookie of the Month once. In addition to the U.S. National Team Development Program and the Ohio State Buckeyes, Kesler has also suited up for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he was named to an AHL All-Star Game.

Kesler has represented the United States at five International Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned events, winning one World U18 Championship gold medal, one World Junior Championships gold medal, and the 2010 Winter Olympics silver medal. He also participated in the 2001 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he won a gold medal.

Early life[link]

Kesler was born on August 31, 1984, in Livonia, Michigan, to Linda and Mike Kesler. He is the youngest of three children, after brother Todd and sister Jenny.^[3] His father, Mike, played college hockey at Colorado College and was a supervisor with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association for 37 years.^[4][5] He introduced his children to the ice at a very young age. Ryan recalls skating at around the age of four.^[6] Mike also coaches a Junior B hockey team and runs a hockey school in Livonia, which Kesler attended as a child every summer from the age of six to seventeen.^[4] In April 2007, Mike was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer and had seven inches of his small intestine removed in order to be rid of it.^[5]

Kesler played minor hockey in Detroit for teams such as Compuware, Honeybaked, and Little Caesars of the Midwest Elite Hockey League (MWEHL).^[7] Around the age of thirteen, Kesler was cut from every AAA team he tried out for. As a result, he played for his dad's Livonia Hockey Association bantam team, which he coached.^[8] Kesler credits his brother, who is nine years older than him, for getting him into hockey.^[9] During his minor career, he established a lasting friendship with Chris Conner, who went on to be drafted by the Dallas Stars.^[10]

Despite growing up in Michigan, he was a Minnesota North Stars fan.^[11] As a young hockey player, Kesler looked up to North Stars center and fellow Livonia native Mike Modano as a role model.^[12] He has also listed Joe Sakic of the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche as a favorite player during his childhood.^[11]

Playing career[link]

U.S. National Team Development Program[link]

In June 2000, Kesler was drafted in the fifth round, 89th overall by the Brampton Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection.^[13] Despite being drafted by a Canadian OHL team, Kesler chose to play in the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) because of its close proximity to his Livonia home.^[14] This allowed Kesler to continue his high school education without leaving Winston Churchill High School.^[14] He entered the USNTDP for the 2000–01 season. Over his two seasons with the USNTDP, Kesler recorded 99 points in 131 games.^[14]

Ohio State University[link]

After two seasons with the USNTDP, Kesler accepted a scholarship to play college hockey at Ohio State University for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). He chose Ohio State over the University of Wisconsin–Madison and its Wisconsin Badgers ice hockey program of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) because Ohio State was closer to Kesler's home in Livonia.^[15] As a freshman, Kesler scored eleven goals and twenty assists to finish fourth in team scoring behind junior and Hobey Baker Award finalist R. J. Umberger.^[16] Over the course of his freshman year, Kesler helped the Buckeyes to a third place finish in the CCHA's regular season standings. At the 2003 CCHA Tournament, Kesler scored two goals as the Buckeye's finished in fourth place, losing to Northern Michigan 4–1 in the third place game.^[16] Despite this finish, Ohio State secured an at-large bid to the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament, the third appearance at the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship in Ohio State's history.^[16] At the tournament, Ohio State suffered a 1–0 loss to Boston College in the opening round of the East Regional at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, ending both the team's and Kesler's season.^[17]

Kesler's play as a freshman earned him an honourable mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team.^[16] He was also named CCHA Rookie of the Week three times, CCHA Rookie of the Month once, and was awarded Ohio State's George Burke Most Valuable Freshman award.^[16] Following the season, Kesler entered the 2003 NHL Entry Draft ranked sixteenth overall among North American skaters.^[18] On June 21, 2003, he was drafted 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks.^[19]

Manitoba Moose[link]

Ryan Kesler wearing his old #20 during his rookie season.

Upon being drafted, Kesler considered returning to Ohio State for his sophomore season or joining the Brampton Battalion, who still held his OHL rights.^[19] However, less than two months after being drafted, Kesler signed a three-year, $2.475-million entry level contract with the Canucks, complemented by an $850,000 signing bonus.^[3][20][21] After attending Canucks training camp and playing in five preseason games, Kesler was cut by the Canucks and sent to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.^[22] Kesler began his first professional season with the Moose, but was recalled by the Canucks in November and made his NHL debut on November 24, 2003 in a 2–1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording one shot on goal and 12:12 of ice time.^[23] He scored his first career NHL goal on November 29 against Calgary Flames goaltender Jamie McLennan in a 4–4 tie.^[24] For the remainder of the season, Kesler split time between the Canucks and the Moose, finishing his season with five points in 28 Canucks games and eleven points in 33 Moose games.

The 2004–05 NHL lockout, which cancelled the full 2004–05 NHL season, forced Kesler to spend the entire season with the Moose.^[25] With Manitoba, Kesler emerged as one of the Canucks' top prospects. Mid-way through the season, Kesler was named to the PlanetUSA All-Star team for the 2005 AHL All-Star Game where he helped PlanetUSA defeat Team Canada for the first time in five years.^[26][27] Kesler finished third in team scoring with thirty goals and 57 points to be named the Moose's Most Valuable Player.^[28] Kesler added an additional nine points in fourteen playoff games as the Moose advanced to the Western Conference finals before being swept by the Chicago Wolves.^[29]

Vancouver Canucks[link]

When the NHL lockout ended and play resumed for the 2005–06 NHL season, Kesler joined the Canucks for his first full season with the team, playing in all 82 games and finishing the season with 23 points. Following the 2005–06 NHL season, Kesler became a restricted free agent and was qualified by the Canucks at $564,000; however, on September 12, 2006, Kesler signed a one-year, $1.9-million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers.^[30] The offer sheet was the first in the NHL since the Tampa Bay Lightning extended one to Brett Hauer in July 1999.^[30] The move was highly controversial with many NHL general managers criticizing how Kesler's inflated salary would affect future free agent signings.^[30] The Canucks had one week to either match the offer or receive a second round draft pick from the Flyers in 2007 as compensation.^[30] Two days after the offer sheet signing, the Canucks matched the Flyers' offer, re-signing Kesler to a one-year, $1.9-million contract.^[31]

After playing 48 games in the 2006–07 NHL season, Kesler suffered a torn acetabular labrum and missed the remainder of the regular season, finishing the season with sixteen points.^[32] Kesler returned to the Canucks lineup for the first game of their quarterfinal playoff series versus the Dallas Stars.^[32] While blocking a shot in the fourth overtime of the game, Kesler suffered a displaced index finger.^[33] Despite finishing the game, Kesler was forced to undergo surgery to repair the damage and missed the remainder of the playoffs.^[33] Despite his limited play, the Canucks re-signed Kesler to a three-year, $5.25-million contract extension on May 24, 2007.^[34]

Kesler with the Canucks in October 2008

Early into his fourth season with the Canucks, Kesler was cross-checked in the face by Philadelphia Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice.^[35] The cross-check was an immediate response to Kesler hitting Flyers defenceman Randy Jones and resulted in Kesler leaving the game with a sore jaw.^[35] Boulerice was subsequently suspended for 25 games, matching the then largest suspension in the NHL's history.^[36] Later in the season, Kesler was involved in another violent on-ice incident when Anaheim Ducks defenceman Chris Pronger used his skate blade to stomp on Kesler's calf. Although the NHL originally announced that Pronger would not receive a suspension on the play, he later received an eight-game suspension when new video emerged of the incident.^[37][38] Over the course of the season, Kesler established himself as a solid two-way centre, scoring a career high 21 goals and 37 points and playing a regular shutdown role against opposing teams' top players and on the penalty kill with linemate Alexandre Burrows.^[39]

With the departures of Markus Näslund, Brendan Morrison, and Trevor Linden following the 2007–08 season, the Canucks were left without any captains for the 2008–09 NHL season. On September 30, 2008, Kesler was announced as a Canucks alternate captain with Willie Mitchell and Mattias Öhlund, while Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was named captain.^[40] While he, at first, continued to play on the third line in a largely defensive role with Burrows, head coach Alain Vigneault eventually split the duo in the midst of a poor January for the team. As a result, Kesler was placed on the second line with free agent acquisitions Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin.^[41][42] Playing in a more offensive role, he set personal statistical bests for the 2008–09 season, with 26 goals, 33 assists and 59 points. As a result, he was awarded the Cyclone Taylor Award as team MVP.^[43] Kesler gained more league-wide recognition as a Selke Trophy finalist along with Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings and Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers,^[44] finishing as the second runner-up with one first-place vote.^[45]

In the midst of another career year, Kesler signed a six-year, $30 million contract extension with the Canucks on March 19, 2010. The deal will pay Kesler $5 million per season.^[46] The signing came a month and a half after general manager Mike Gillis announced he had suspended contract negotiations with all the Canucks' pending free agents until after the 2009–10 season.^[47] The Canucks were reportedly looking to sign him at $4.5 million per year, while Kesler was asking for $5.5 million.^[46] Kesler had made remarks the previous season in March 2009, after Burrows had recently signed a four-year, $2 million per season extension, that more players need to sign contracts below market value in order to develop a winning team.^[48] His comments later prompted his agent to refute the idea Kesler would not negotiate a new contract with the Canucks at full market value.^[49] Kesler was also contacted by NHL Players Association director of affairs Glenn Healy, discouraging him to make similar remarks in the future.^[48]

Kesler faces off against Ryan Getzlaf in December 2009.

Kesler completed the 2009–10 campaign with a new personal best in points for the third consecutive season with 75 points (25 goals and 50 assists). With the retirement of Sundin and Demitra being held out of the lineup with injuries, he was moved to his natural center position and joined by wingers Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond.^[50] His 26 power play points ranked second on the team to Henrik Sedin.^[51] Playing on the second power play unit, he earned many of his points controlling the puck along the half-boards.^[52] He also averaged a career-high 19:37 minutes of ice time per game, which ranked second among team forwards to Henrik Sedin.^[53] In the subsequent 2010 playoffs, Kesler notched a goal and nine assists in 12 games. After helping the Canucks eliminate the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, he played with a sore shoulder in the second round, as Vancouver were eliminated by the Blackhawks for the second consecutive year.^[54] An MRI did not reveal any serious injury.^[55] He admitted following the defeat to not having playing his best during the playoffs.^[54]

Following the campaign, he was a Selke Tropy finalist for the second consecutive season, opposite Pavel Datsyuk and Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[56] He ranked second in the league to Datsyuk in takeaways with 83, while blocking 73 shots and recording 95 hits.^[56] He lost the award as the first runner-up with 655 voting points, compared to Datsyuk's 688.^[53]

Also in the off-season, Luongo resigned his team captaincy. As Canucks management waited until the beginning of the 2010–11 season to announce his replacement, Kesler was seen by media and fans as a strong candidate, alongside Henrik Sedin.^[57][58] Henrik was eventually named captain prior to the season-opener and Kesler retained his alternate captaincy.^[59]

The 2010–11 season marked an expanded focus on Kesler's offensive role. He began the season playing on the power play with the Sedins, as part of an effort by the Canucks coaching staff to "load up" their first power play unit.^[52] Switching from being the primary puck-controller on the second unit, he moved to the front of the net, screening the goalie and tipping pucks in.^[52] The off-season acquisition of defensive specialist Manny Malhotra also liberated Kesler from a large portion of his defensive duties, such as playing against opposing team's top forwards in a shutdown role.^[60] Two months into the campaign, Kesler notched his 100th career NHL goal in a 4–2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on November 24, 2010.^[61] He later earned his first NHL career hat-trick, scoring all three of the Canucks' goals in a 3–2 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 15.^[62] Nearly a month later, he recorded a second hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers in a 6–1 win.^[63] On January 11, 2011, Kesler was named to his first NHL All-Star Game; he was one of three Canucks along with Daniel and Henrik Sedin.^[64] Kesler was chosen to be an alternate captain alongside Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green representing Eric Staal's team;^[65] he went without a point as Team Staal was defeated by Team Nicklas Lidstrom 11–10.^[66] Prior to the Canucks' final home game of the regular season on April 7, 2011, Kesler was presented with the team's Most Exciting Player Award, as voted by the fans.^[67] Playing the Minnesota Wild that night, he went on to record his third hat trick of the season, reaching the 40-goal plateau, as the Canucks won 5–0.^[68]

Kesler in warm-ups during the 2011–12 season

Kesler finished the regular season with a career-high 41 goals; he added 32 assists for 73 points over 82 games, third among Canucks scorers. His efforts helped the Canucks to the franchise's first Presidents' Trophy. After opening the playoffs with a seven-game, first-round victory over the Blackhawks, the Canucks faced the Nashville Predators in the second round. Kesler recorded a point in 11 of the Canucks' 14 goals in the series, leading them past the Predators in six games. He was one point short of Pavel Bure's franchise record of most points in a playoff series (Bure had 12 points in a seven-game series against the Blues in 1995).^[69] Playing the San Jose Sharks in the third round, Kesler appeared to injure either his left leg or groin while pursuing opposing defenceman Dan Boyle in the series' deciding fifth game.^[70] After leaving the bench for several shifts, he returned to score the game-tying goal, tipping a Henrik Sedin shot with 13.2 seconds remaining in regulation. The Canucks went on to win in double-overtime, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.^[71] Having suffered a torn labrum on the play, Kesler required cortisone shots to continue playing for the remainder of the playoffs (his injury was not revealed until the off-season, however).^[72] Prior to the Finals, he was believed by many in the media to be a leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.^[73] Consequently, Kesler's performance diminished in the Finals. Playing the Boston Bruins, the Canucks lost the series in seven games. After recording an assist on the game-winning goal in Game 1, he failed to register a point in the remaining six games, while also recording a -7 rating.^[74] With 19 points (7 goals and 12 assists) over 25 games, he ranked third among Canucks scorers (behind the Sedins) and tied for sixth among NHL players overall.^[75]

A week after the Canucks' Game 7 loss, Kesler was awarded the Selke Trophy after finishing as a runner-up the previous two years.^[76] He received 1,179 voting points in comparison to runners-up Jonathan Toews' 476 and Pavel Datsyuk's 348.^{[77][notes 1]} Kesler was also ranked eighth in Hart Memorial Trophy voting as the league's most valuable player.^{[notes 2][78]} Later in the off-season, Kesler underwent arthroscopic surgery for the torn labrum in his hip. Unrelated to his labrum tear in 2007, he had adopted a program to recuperate from the injury naturally until a specialist advised him to have surgery in late-July 2011. The Canucks announced on August 2 that Kesler had successfully undergone the procedure, while it was also reported he would not be ready to play until mid-October.^[73] On schedule, he returned to the lineup on October 18 against the New York Rangers after missing the first five games of the 2011–12 season.^[79]

International play[link]

Medal record
Ice hockey
Competitor for  United States
Winter Olympics
Silver	2010 Vancouver
World Junior Championships
Gold	2004 Helsinki
World U18 Championships
Gold	2002 Piešťany

Throughout his career, Kesler has represented the United States at various international ice hockey tournaments. He first competed internationally at the 2001 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in New Glasgow and Truro, Nova Scotia where he helped the American team to a gold medal victory over Team Canada Pacific, finishing the tournament with one goal and five assists in six games.^[80]

Kesler participated in his first International Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned event at the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships in Piešťany and Trnava, Slovakia. He finished the tournament with seven points in eight games, including two goals in a 10–3 defeat over Canada in the final round.^[81] The Americans won their first U18 title, with Kesler being awarded the Best Player Award for the tournament.^[14] Later that year, Kesler was named to the United States national junior team for the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia. He finished the tournament second in team scoring behind Zach Parise with seven points in seven games as the United States lost 3–2 to Finland in the bronze medal game.^[82][83] During the tournament, Kesler was twice named the United States' player of the game—in their quarterfinal game versus the Czech Republic and in the bronze medal game versus Finland.^[84]

In December 2003, Kesler was released by the Vancouver Canucks to play in the 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Kesler's second World Junior tournament.^[85] Kesler scored two goals as the Americans went a perfect 4–0 to win Pool A and advance to the semifinals.^[86] There they defeated Finland 2–1, the team that had defeated them in the previous year's bronze medal game, to advance to the gold medal game versus Canada.^[87] In the gold medal game, Kesler scored the game-tying goal 6:58 into the third period to even the score at 3–3.^[88] After Canadian goaltender Marc-André Fleury cleared the puck off of teammate Braydon Coburn and into his own net, the Americans took the lead 4–3 and went on to win their first IIHF World U20 Championship in the tournament's history.^[88] Kesler's play in the tournament was praised as he often took critical faceoffs and played on the Americans' most offensive line despite suffering a facial injury early in the tournament.^[89]

Although having never played for the American national men's team, Kesler was named to the orientation camp for the American team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy held from September 5–8, 2005 in Colorado Springs, Colorado at World Arena.^[90] Kesler, one of the youngest players at the camp, did not make the final roster for the Games.^[14] Rather, Kesler made his national men's team debut three months after the Olympics at the 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Riga, Latvia.^[91] Kesler finished the tournament with one point in seven games, assisting on a Yan Stastny goal in the United States' 3–0 victory versus Denmark.^[92] He was named the United States' player of the game in their 6–0 quarter-final loss against Sweden.^[93]

Having developed into a top defensive forward in recent seasons, Kesler was an early candidate to be selected to the American team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the city in which he plays his NHL hockey.^[94][95][96] The United States played Canada in the final game of the preliminary round to determine top spot in the pool. With United States up by a goal in the final minute, Kesler dove past opposing forward Corey Perry to score an empty-netter and secure the 5–3 win. In a rematch between the two teams in the gold medal game, Kesler scored in the second period on a deflection from Patrick Kane, ultimately losing by a score of 3–2 in overtime on Sidney Crosby's game-winning goal.^[97]

Kesler checking Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews during a 2009 game

Playing style[link]

Kesler is known as a two-way forward, capable of contributing both offensively and defensively. In his first few years in the NHL, he established his role as a shutdown forward, playing on the penalty kill and against opposing teams' top players. He also earned a reputation as an agitator, trash-talking and engaging opponents physically in between play. During the 2008–09 season, Kesler began adding a more offensive component to his game and was moved up to the Canucks' second line from third. With an increased points total, he earned league recognition with his first Selke Trophy nomination as the NHL's best defensive forward. He has since continued to improve his offensive skills while remaining defensively responsible.^[98]

Among his most prevalent skills are his speed and wrist shot, the latter of which has improved alongside his recent years of increased offensive production. He is also proficient at taking faceoffs. On the penalty kill, he is an efficient shot blocker, using his body to get in the way of pucks. While competing on the powerplay, he often uses his size and strength to maintain position in front of the opposing net to either screen the goaltender or deflect shots.

Kesler's success as a player has been attributed to his competitiveness and desire to outwork opposing players. Kesler has recognized, however, that his competitive drive has often caused him to lose his composure. In the 2010 off-season, Canucks management encouraged him to play with more focus, maintaining his emotions and decreasing physical and verbal confrontation with opposing players. During the subsequent 2010–11 campaign, he gained media attention for changing his play accordingly while enjoying the best season of his career. Kesler has also credited the change with his role as a father, wanting to set a mature example for his children when they watch him play.^[98]

Personal life[link]

Kesler and his wife Andrea have two children, a daughter named Makayla Rylan and a son named Ryker, born on December 19, 2010.^[99][100] During the hockey season, they live with their three dogs in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano.^[101] In the off-season, they return to Kesler's hometown, Livonia, Michigan.^[102] He keeps a Ford Mustang at his parents' home in Livonia, which he enjoys racing.^[103]

Endorsements[link]

In March 2010, Kesler was announced as the cover athlete for the 2K Sports video game NHL 2K11, released several months later in August. He had previously worked with 2K Sports, doing motion capture for NHL 2K10.^[104]

In November 2010, Kesler released his own line of sportswear and casual clothing. In partnership with Vancouver-based Firstar Sports, the line was branded "RK17".^[105] A promotional photograph of Kesler modeling athletic underwear received considerable media attention in Vancouver and resulted in him being named in a feature entitled "Most Beautiful People of B.C." by a local publication.^[106]

Career statistics[link]