 He was selected in the first round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, 21st overall, by the Edmonton Oilers.Issel played four games for the Oilers, and was briefly part of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks minor league systems, but spent the majority of his career in Europe.He officially announced his retirement on July 1, 1999 and works as a constable for Prince Albert Police Departement since then.