{"id":455933,"date":"2026-02-12T18:52:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/455933\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T18:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:52:12","slug":"macklin-celebrini-scores-first-goal-for-team-canada-at-winter-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/455933\/","title":{"rendered":"Macklin Celebrini scores first goal for Team Canada at Winter Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

It didn\u2019t take long for San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini to make an impact for Team Canada<\/a> at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.<\/a><\/p>\n

Stationed in front of the net in the opening period of Canada\u2019s first game, Celebrini redirected defenseman Cale Makar\u2019s shot from the point past goalie Lukas Dostal with just 5.7 seconds left before intermission, giving Canada a 1-0 lead over Czechia on Thursday at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.<\/a><\/p>\n

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid retrieved the puck inside the Czechia zone and sent a cross-ice pass to Makar. The Colorado Avalanche defenseman\u2019s shot was just below shoulder height, and Celebrini reached out with his stick and directed it down past Dostal, who plays with the Anaheim Ducks.<\/p>\n

The game was played at a blistering pace, and with the goal, Celebrini, at 19 years and 244 days old, became the youngest player to score for Canada at an Olympics featuring NHL players. The previous youngest player was Jonathan Toews, who was 21 years and 305 days old when he scored for Canada in its 3-2 win<\/a> over the United States in the Gold Medal game at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.<\/p>\n

Celebrini also became just the fourth teenager to score a goal in their first-ever Olympic period involving NHL players, joining Finland\u2019s Olli M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4 (Feb. 13, 2014), Russia\u2019s Ilya Kovalchuk (Feb. 15, 2002), and Austria\u2019s Oliver Setzinger (Feb. 9, 2002).<\/p>\n

MACKLIN CELEBRINI GOAL. CALE MAKAR ASSIST.<\/p>\n

Team Canada grabs their first goal of the Winter Olympics! pic.twitter.com\/Y9g95czCNp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Canada later took a 2-0 lead on a goal by Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone with 13:20 left in the second period. With 2:34 to go before intermission, New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat scored on a breakaway to give the Canadians a 3-0 lead.<\/p>\n

Celebrini, who had two shots on goal in the first two periods of Thursday\u2019s game, is the youngest NHL player in the men\u2019s hockey tournament. He began group play on Canada\u2019s top line alongside McDavid and Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals.<\/p>\n

Besides playing alongside McDavid, a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, Celebrini was also on Canada\u2019s second power play unit with Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders, plus Stone, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodore of the Golden Knights.<\/p>\n

Celebrini entered the Olympic break fourth in the NHL in scoring with 81 points, the most for a teenager after 55 games since Sidney Crosby had 91 points for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2006-07 season.<\/p>\n

After Thursday, the Canadians finish the preliminary round with games against Switzerland on Friday at noon (PST) and France on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. The quarterfinals are on Feb. 18, with the semifinals two days later. The Bronze Medal game is on Feb. 21, and the Gold Medal game is the next day.<\/p>\n

Besides Celebrini, other Sharks representing their countries are forwards Pavol Regenda (Slovakia), Alex Wennberg (Sweden), and Philipp Kurashev (Switzerland). All three players won their opening games, with Slovakia upsetting Finland 4-1 and Sweden beating Italy 4-2 on Wednesday. Earlier Thursday, Kurashev had an assist in Switzerland\u2019s 4-0 win over France.<\/p>\n

In its first Olympic game, the U.S. plays Latvia at noon Thursday. There are no Sharks players on the American team.<\/p>\n

Please check back for updates to this story.<\/p>\n

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