Macklin Celebrini Makes Olympic History as Youngest Canadian NHL Player
On December 31, a life-changing phone call reached San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini. Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong delivered the news the 19-year-old had dreamed of since childhood: he had been named to Canada's 25-player roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
A Dream Realized and a Record Set
When Celebrini takes the ice on February 12 against the Czech Republic, he will officially become the youngest player ever to represent Canada at the Olympics with NHL players. This historic selection places him in elite company, surpassing previous record-holders who were considerably older.
Armstrong told the teenager he had made the team and expressed his excitement about the group heading to Italy. Immediately after hanging up with the general manager, Celebrini called his parents to share the monumental moment.
The previous youngest Canadian Olympians in the NHL era were:
- Drew Doughty, who was 20 during the 2010 Olympics
- Jonathan Toews, who was 21 at that same tournament
- Rick Nash, who was 21 at the 2006 Olympics
- Simon Gagne, who was 21 in 2002
The Weight of the Maple Leaf
"It's all surreal," Celebrini said after posting a goal and an assist in the Sharks' 4-3 shootout win over Minnesota on Wednesday. "I'm just really excited and focused on how special it is to represent my country at the Olympics."
The North Vancouver native fully understands the magnitude of representing an entire nation on the Olympic stage. "When you think about representing Canada at the Olympics, you realize you're one group representing the entire country," he acknowledged. "So many athletes work their whole lives for that chance, and it means something extra to be part of that."
Dominant Performance Backs Olympic Selection
Celebrini has emphatically justified his Olympic selection with outstanding play for the Sharks this season. The center currently ranks fourth in NHL scoring with 81 points through 54 games, trailing only fellow Canadians Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, along with Russian superstar Nikita Kucherov.
His impressive stat line of 28 goals and 54 assists has propelled the Sharks firmly into the Western Conference playoff race. San Jose sits with 58 points, just five points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second wild card spot as the Olympic break approaches.
The first overall pick from the 2024 draft finished as a Calder Trophy finalist last season after posting 63 points in his rookie campaign. Remarkably, he has already surpassed his rookie assist total of 38 in 31 fewer games this season.
Olympic Schedule and NHL Return
Canada opens Olympic play on February 12 against the Czech Republic before facing Switzerland on February 13. The gold medal game is scheduled for February 22, marking the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Following the Olympic break, the Sharks return to action on February 26 against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center. San Jose will have nine games remaining to secure their first playoff berth since 2019, with Celebrini's leadership and scoring prowess expected to play a crucial role in their postseason push.
