Phil Kemp Bio
Philip Kemp is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenseman for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 202 pounds, the right-handed shot skates with a long, rangy frame that has become a calling card in his development path. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, 208th overall, after captaining Yale University during the 2019-20 college season. Kemp has since built his professional resume across multiple leagues, including a brief stint in Sweden and several seasons in the AHL, before signing with the Penguins organization in July 2025.
Currently on a two-year, two-way contract that runs through the 2026-27 season, Kemp is part of a defensive pipeline that supports the Penguins’ NHL roster. His journey from a late-round draft pick to a contracted NHL prospect illustrates the patience required to develop at the game’s highest level, and his steady progression through the Bakersfield Condors and into the Pittsburgh system has positioned him as a dependable depth defenseman entering the prime of his career.
Early Life and Background
Philip Kemp was born on February 12, 1999, in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he grew up surrounded by the competitive youth hockey scene of the northeastern United States. Greenwich, located in Fairfield County, has long produced skilled players who feed into prep school and collegiate programs across New England, and Kemp was part of that pipeline. His early exposure to organized hockey in the region helped shape the defensive foundation that would later define his style of play.
From a young age, Kemp developed within a family environment that supported athletic pursuit, though specific details about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented. He progressed through local and regional youth programs before reaching the level of junior hockey that would eventually lead to NCAA recruitment. His physical maturation, which eventually brought him to his current 6-foot-3 frame, allowed him to lean on reach and positioning rather than raw speed during his formative years.
Kemp’s path to collegiate hockey included a commitment to Yale University, an Ivy League institution with a long-standing Division I program. He would go on to serve as team captain during the 2019-20 season, a leadership role that reflected both his on-ice reliability and the trust he earned from coaches and teammates over multiple seasons in New Haven.
Path to Hockey
Kemp’s route to professional hockey began in earnest at Yale University, where he played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey for the Yale Bulldogs. Competing in the demanding ECAC Hockey conference, he refined his defensive game against some of the top collegiate programs in the country, including traditional powerhouses like Cornell, Harvard, and Quinnipiac. By his senior year, his consistent two-way play had earned him the captaincy, and he helped guide the program through the early stages of the 2019-20 campaign.
His leadership at Yale coincided with growing NHL interest, culminating in his selection by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Although drafted late, Kemp’s blend of size, mobility, and hockey IQ made him an intriguing long-term project. The Oilers’ player development staff tracked his progression through the NCAA ranks, and his decision to remain at Yale through his senior season allowed him to continue building his game against older, more experienced competition.
The 2019-20 college season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Kemp had already established himself as a steady, minute-eating defenseman. That spring, the Oilers signed him to an entry-level contract, beginning the next phase of his development and officially launching his professional career on November 25, 2020.
Phil Kemp Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
On November 25, 2020, Philip Kemp signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers and was immediately assigned to Väsby IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier professional league in Sweden. The international posting was a common route for North American prospects whose North American developmental leagues were disrupted by pandemic-related scheduling issues. Playing in Sweden gave Kemp a chance to log meaningful professional minutes against grown men while adjusting to the speed and structure of pro hockey.
Following the conclusion of Väsby IK’s season in March 2021, Kemp, along with fellow Oilers prospect Raphaël Lavoie, was reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL, Edmonton’s top minor league affiliate. The transition back to North America allowed him to familiarize himself with the Oilers’ organizational systems and play within a North American professional environment for the first time.
Bakersfield Condors Era (2021-2025)
Kemp spent the next three seasons with the Bakersfield Condors, anchoring the team’s back end and developing into a reliable, stay-at-home defenseman. His game centered on clearing the front of the net, blocking shots, and breaking up opposing rushes rather than contributing offensively, and his long stride helped him recover defensively when plays broke down. Coaches in Bakersfield praised his work ethic and his willingness to take on a defensive-first role, even when it meant sacrificing ice time on the power play.
In May 2023, after completing his initial three-year entry-level deal, Kemp was re-signed by the Oilers to a two-year, two-way contract extension, signaling the organization’s continued belief in his development. The deal kept him within the Oilers pipeline and gave him another opportunity to push for NHL playing time. His growth in Bakersfield throughout the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons positioned him as a viable call-up option for Edmonton.
The breakthrough came on January 13, 2024, when Kemp played his first NHL game for the Edmonton Oilers against the Montreal Canadiens. The appearance marked the realization of a journey that began with a seventh-round selection in 2017, validating years of patient development. Although his NHL ice time in Edmonton remained limited, the debut confirmed that he had reached the league’s highest level.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Era (2025-Present)
Following the 2024-25 season, Kemp became a free agent from the Oilers after five seasons within the organization. On July 2, 2025, he signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, joining the team’s minor league affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in the AHL. The move provided him with a fresh opportunity to compete for NHL ice time in a new system, while remaining close to the parent club in Pittsburgh.
Under the terms of the contract, Kemp is slated to remain with the Penguins organization through the 2026-27 season. His role with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been as a steady, experienced presence on the blue line, mentoring younger defensemen while continuing to refine his game. The Penguins’ depth chart on defense has provided both opportunity and competition, and Kemp’s experience in the AHL has allowed him to play significant minutes in all situations.
Driving Style and Strengths
Philip Kemp is widely regarded as a defensive-minded defenseman whose strengths lie in his reach, positioning, and penalty-killing reliability. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall with a long wingspan, he uses his frame to disrupt passing lanes and win board battles, and he is particularly effective when clearing the front of the net on defensive zone draws. His ability to log steady minutes on the penalty kill, combined with his calm puck movement out of danger, has made him a trusted presence in tight games.
Notable Events and Milestones
The most significant milestone of Kemp’s career came on January 13, 2024, when he suited up for his first NHL game with the Edmonton Oilers against the Montreal Canadiens. Drafted 208th overall in 2017, his debut represented the culmination of a six-year development arc that included stints in the NCAA, HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden, and three full AHL seasons in Bakersfield.
Phil Kemp Career Wins
Philip Kemp’s professional career has been built on steady, incremental progress rather than trophy-case hardware, and verified individual award totals for his professional career are not publicly documented. His path from seventh-round draft pick to NHL-contracted defenseman represents a notable achievement in itself, and his consistent role within two organizations reflects the trust placed in him by management. Any specific win totals, championship victories, or postseason statistics are not currently verifiable from available sources.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Highlights
Since joining the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the summer of 2025, Philip Kemp has slotted into a top-four defensive role with the AHL affiliate, providing veteran stability on the back end. Specific win and points totals from his time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are not yet fully documented, but his consistent deployment suggests the organization views him as a key piece of its defensive corps.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Philip Kemp served as captain of the Yale University hockey team during the 2019-20 season, a leadership distinction that underscored his standing within one of the Ivy League’s most competitive programs. Additional junior, collegiate, or international performance metrics are not currently verified.
Phil Kemp Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Philip Kemp’s immediate family, including his parents and any siblings, is limited, and detailed background is not extensively documented. His upbringing in Greenwich, Connecticut, and his progression through northeastern youth hockey suggests a supportive family environment that prioritized athletic development. No specific family members with prior professional hockey careers have been publicly identified.
Personal Life
Philip Kemp maintains a private personal life, and no public information regarding a spouse, partner, or children has been documented. He continues to reside in the United States while pursuing his professional hockey career, splitting time between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh when called up to the NHL roster.
2025 Season Performance
Philip Kemp’s 2025-26 campaign began with his transition to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, where he signed a two-year, two-way contract on July 2, 2025, and was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The move marked the start of a new chapter after five seasons within the Edmonton Oilers system, and his early-season form has reflected the experience gained from years of professional hockey. Working within the Penguins’ defensive structure, he has been deployed in shutdown matchups and on the penalty kill, two areas where his size and positioning provide clear value.
As the season progresses, Kemp remains positioned as a potential call-up option for the parent Pittsburgh Penguins, with the team’s depth chart on defense offering pathways to NHL ice time when injuries or performance issues arise. His familiarity with the AHL level, combined with his proven ability to step into NHL games, makes him a dependable insurance policy for the organization. Continued strong play in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton could translate into additional NHL opportunities before the campaign concludes.
Looking ahead, Kemp’s two-year contract provides a clear window to cement his place within the Penguins’ long-term defensive plans. With patience, consistency, and the physical tools that first attracted the Oilers’ attention in 2017, the late-round draft pick out of Greenwich continues to chase the stability of a full-time NHL role.