Team Canada began its 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey journey with a commanding 5-0 victory over Team Czechia on Thursday at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. The highlight of the match was 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini’s opening goal, which not only gave Canada the lead but also made him the youngest Canadian NHL player to score at the Olympics.
An Impressive Goal to Break the Ice
Celebrini’s goal came in the final moments of the first period. With 5.7 seconds remaining, Connor McDavid regained possession in the offensive zone and passed to defenseman Cale Makar, who took a powerful slapshot. Celebrini, skating in from behind, redirected Makar’s shot past Czech goalie Lukas Dostal, ending a nearly 20-minute scoreless stretch. This achievement broke the previous record held by Jonathan Toews, who was 21 when he scored at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Recognized Among the NHL’s Elite
Entering the Olympics, Celebrini was ranked fourth in NHL scoring with 81 points from 28 goals and 53 assists in 55 games, trailing only Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov. His standout performance in the opening game earned praise from veteran Markinnon, who called Celebrini one of the world’s best players.
Regardless of his age, (Celebrini is) a top five or seven player in the world. No questions,
said MacKinnon.
Team Effort Behind Canada’s Dominant Performance
Goalie Jordan Binnington delivered a flawless 26-save game, including key stops early on to maintain the shutout. McDavid facilitated three assists, connecting with Nick Suzuki and Tom Wilson, and helped set up a power-play goal with MacKinnon reminiscent of last year’s Four Nations Face-Off sequence. Mitch Marner and Bo Horvat also contributed two more goals, solidifying Canada’s control of the match.
Learning from Legends and Maintaining Composure
Playing alongside hockey greats Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon on Canada’s top line, Celebrini has benefited from their guidance, both in summer training and recent international competitions like the 2025 IIHF World Championships. His confident play during his Olympic debut shows that nerves have not hindered his impressive skill set.
What This Means for Canada’s Olympic Campaign
Macklin Celebrini’s record-breaking goal and poised performance underline his potential to be a defining figure for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Backed by experienced stars and a strong team effort, Canada’s hockey squad is positioned for a deep run in the tournament, with Celebrini’s emergence adding fresh energy and hope to their pursuit of gold.
Nathan MacKinnon on Macklin Celebrini..
“Regardless of his age, (Celebrini is) a top five or seven player in the world. No questions.” https://t.co/edPNavJrJy
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) February 13, 2026
