Concussions end promising college career for Amanda Kessel
Amanda Kessel was forced to call it quits on her college career due to continued post-concussion symptoms from a concussion she suffered over a year ago in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Kessel, who is the sister of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel, played three seasons for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers before she used a redshirt to sit out the Olympic season. Her concussion symptoms did not dissipate in the months following the Olympics, so Kessel was forced to sit out last season as well with a medical redshirt.
But Kessel is still not well enough to play, so with no redshirts remaining, Kessel will have to cut her college playing career short, Gophers coach Brad Frost told the Grand Forks Herald.
"It's just not worth it for her and her health," Frost told the Herald.
Kessel has occasionally written about attending rehab at the Carrick Brain Center to help her recover from her concussion. She posted a video of one of her therapy exercises on Instagram nearly 10 months ago.
Frost told the Herald that Kessel might try to finish her academic courses at the University of Minnesota this year depending on her health, something she was unable to do last year. Because there is no limit to how many years she can play for the national team, it does not seem that Kessel is pulling the plug on her international career at this time.
And while Kessel will not be able to complete four years of NCAA hockey, she still has quite a few honors to her name. Kessel recorded 231 points in 114 games and posted 101 points in 37 games during her junior season to help Minnesota to a perfect 41-0 record and a national title. She is the fourth player in NCAA history to record more than 100 points in a single season.
Her college numbers far exceed her brother's, as Phil Kessel played one season for the Golden Gophers and posted 51 points in 39 games.
(h/t Grand Forks Herald)
Photo credit: Getty Images
