Western Conference Hottie: Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks)

IMPORTANT HOCKEY STUFF: Kesler played minor hockey in Detroit for teams such as Compuware, Honeybaked, and Little Caesars of the Midwest Elite Hockey League (MWEHL). At the age of around thirteen, however, Kesler was cut from every triple-A team he tried out for. As a result, he played for his dad's bantam team, which he coached. Kesler credits his brother, who is nine years older than him, for getting him into hockey. Drafted in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has spent his entire five-year NHL career with the Canucks. He is best known as a two-way forward, having been nominated for the Selke Trophy in 2009.

In one season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, he was an honorable 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. He's a solid two-way center, 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 line mate Alexandre Burrows. 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. 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. 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. 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, finishing as the second runner-up with one first-place vote.

REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF: Kesler is often (at least as far as I know) overlooked in the hotness department. I look at him as "unassumingly steamy." Take that for what you will, but I encourage you to look and you'll be well rewarded. 6'2, 202lbs. Dark brown wavy hair, brooding brown eyes, and that slightly shy demeanor, will melt your heart in an instant. As will the slightly crooked, little grin... when he'll actually grin which he seems to like to avoid doing.

I feel that pretty much all my blathering, can be supported if you just watch this video. All arguments as to his hotness should be well supported.



During the hockey season, Kesler and his wife Andrea live with their three dogs in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano. They have one child, a daughter named Makayla Rylan Kesler who was born in May 2008. Kesler is an avid (video) gamer and enjoys racing his Ford Mustang [which of course makes me fall for him right then, Hockey player or not.] which is kept at his parents' home.