Macklin Celebrini will go for the gold medal at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games 2026, in hopes of becoming just the seventh San Jose Sharks player to earn that achievement.
If Team Canada earns the gold against Team USA on Sunday, Celebrini would join Owen Nolan, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau (2), Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Danny Heatley, and Dan Boyle as Olympic gold medalists. Gary Suter and Joe Pavelski had their chance, but earned silver medals for Team USA.
Team Canada’s head coach, Jon Cooper, deployed the 19-year-old for a team-high 25:53 time on ice against Finland. After the game, Cooper told Jackie Redmond that the San Jose Sharks center is generational and that he could’ve played him more.
“He’s generational that kid. And he plays it the right way,” Cooper said. “For somebody that young to understand where to be, and he’s pulled the risk out of his game that he had in the first game of the tournament. Early on, he would try to make something out of nothing, which superstar players can do. This tournament, you can’t because the best players in the world all check. For him to figure that out so early, and now do the things he’s doing, I’m surprised I didn’t play him more.”
It will be a tough challenge, as Team USA is seeking revenge for its 4 Nations Face-Off loss last season. Celebrini wasn’t part of that game, but Cooper will once again lean on the Sharks’ young superstar.
As Sidney Crosby deals with a lower-body injury, the Canadians will have to decide on their top power-play. With Crosby out of the lineup on Friday, Celebrini took the vacated spot of the captain. According to reports, there is 70% chance Crosby will play in Sunday’s gold medal game.