Philip Kemp

October 2020 – Kemp will be returning to Yale for a fourth season. With NCAA hockey being delayed due to COVID-19, it is yet to be seen when his season will begin. Jameson Ewasiuk

March 2020 – Consistency has been the name of the game for Kemp. This season for Yale the 21-year-old defender has recorded eight points in 29 games that match the eight points in 30 games that he recorded last season and the eight points in 26 games he recorded the year prior as a freshman. Offensive production has never been Kemp’s forte and if/when he turns pro, it will be unrealistic to expect him to be anything more than a stay at home defender. It is unclear as to when the young American will opt to leave school and with so many young defensemen ahead of him on Edmonton’s depth chart, he may not even want to sign with the Oilers. Jameson Ewasiuk

March 2019 – Much like his play on the ice, Kemp’s season has been steady. He’ll never be a big point-producer but you know what you get from Kemp. He is a big-bodied defender who plays a sound defensive game and doesn’t hesitate to engage physically. His eight points in 28 games aren’t jaw-dropping by any means but they essentially match the eight points in 26 games that he produced last year at Yale. The highlight of the season for Kemp had to be making the US World Junior team. His stay-at-home style as well as his praised leadership abilities are what earned him a spot on that US team. He recorded one assist in seven games at the World Junior Championship. In a world where puck-moving defenders are all the rage, it is hard to say how Kemp will fit into the Oilers’ future plans as well as how effective he will be at the pro level in the future. Jameson Ewasiuk

December 2018 – After recording eight points in 25 games in his first season with Yale, Kemp has recorded three points in 12 games this season. Offensive creativity and puck moving have never been Kemp’s forte and it is unlikely that he will ever be a must have fantasy player, but he excels in the defensive zone and is capable of bringing a physical presence. He has been recognized as a strong leader and has often wore a letter on his jersey during international competitions. That leadership ability has also helped him earn an invite to the US World Junior camp. Jameson Ewasiuk