Phil Kessel is one of the most beloved players in the NHL—and he reinforced why that is after winning the Stanley Cup for the third time in his career on Tuesday night.
Kessel was a healthy scratch for the Golden Knights for most of the playoffs but was as crucial to Vegas’ success as anybody, having played all 82 regular-season games as he extended his NHL ironman record.
With the season over, it’s time for Kessel to revel in his accomplishment and party hard. Well, not too hard.
“Obviously it’s going to be a fun night, and, uh, try not throw up,” Kessel said after Game 5.
Phil Kessel is just trying not to puke out here 🤣 pic.twitter.com/DBW9B4K1Dq
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 14, 2023
NHL fans really got a kick out of Kessel’s quote:
this is why he is so awesome. man of the people lol
— Camb ☮️ (@Phillygirl103) June 14, 2023
"I'll try not to throw up" is a great post-championship sports mantra. https://t.co/yHjYqP98Ri
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) June 14, 2023
Phil is a national treasure. I couldn’t be happier for this man and his career. https://t.co/oOsFKx37uV
— Rob (@Negative_Rob) June 14, 2023
We don’t deserve him. https://t.co/6YHZ94XL8h
— Chris Handlovitch (@Handlovitch) June 14, 2023
PHILL BABY!!!!!! What a Gem!!! https://t.co/OjPV4GsTci
— Joe Forest Jr. (@JoeForest13) June 14, 2023
Kessel also took a shot at his doubters after the game.
“Takes me back to my Toronto days,” Kessel told Mike Stephens of The Hockey News. “You guys said I couldn’t win, and now I’m a three-time champ. Remember that.”
It isn’t the first time Kessel has used a Cup victory as an opportunity to get revenge on his critics. After a Toronto columnist fabricated a story about Kessel visiting the same hot dog vendor for lunch every day, Kessel celebrated by filling the Cup with hot dogs when he won with the Penguins in 2017. You have to love the guy.
