Macklin Celebrini Bio
Macklin Richard Celebrini (born June 13, 2006) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre and serves as an alternate captain for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected first overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL entry draft, Celebrini has quickly become one of the most prominent young stars in the league, earning a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist nod in his rookie season. He previously played college hockey for the Boston University Terriers, where he won the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman.
Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, Celebrini shoots left and has represented Canada at multiple international events, including the 2026 Winter Olympics. Known for his offensive creativity and two-way play, he entered the NHL with high expectations and has continued to deliver at a remarkable pace through his first two professional seasons.
Early Life and Background
Macklin Richard Celebrini was born on June 13, 2006, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Robyn and Rick Celebrini. His father, Rick, played soccer for the Vancouver 86ers and later worked as a physiotherapist for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC before being hired by the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association as their director of sports medicine and performance. Celebrini grew up a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, his hometown team.
Celebrini is the second of four children. His older brother, Aiden, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL entry draft, and the two brothers played together for the 2023–24 college season at Boston University. His two younger siblings also play sports; his sister, Charlie, plays tennis, and his brother, R.J., is a hockey player at the junior level. Celebrini is of Croatian descent through his paternal grandfather, Anton Celebrini, who was born in Porat, a village on the island of Krk.
Path to Hockey
Celebrini played minor hockey in Vancouver with the North Shore Winter Club before his family moved to San Jose, where he spent the 2019–20 season with the San Jose Jr Sharks program. After a season at Shattuck-Saint Mary’s School, where he scored 50 goals and 67 assists in 52 games, he signed with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League for the 2022–23 season. With the Steel, he scored 86 points, leading the USHL and breaking the record for most points ever by an under-17 player in league history.
After helping the Steel reach the USHL’s Eastern Conference Finals, Celebrini was named Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Forward of the Year, becoming the second USHL player to win all three awards and the first to do so in a single season. He committed to play for Boston University beginning in the 2023–24 season, joining his older brother Aiden in the lineup.
Macklin Celebrini Career
Early Career (2023–2024)
During his freshman season at Boston University in 2023–24, Celebrini recorded 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games, earning Hockey East Player of the Year, Hockey East Rookie of the Year, Hockey East Scoring Champion, and the Hockey East Three-Stars Award. He became the youngest player ever to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player, and only the fourth freshman to claim the honour, following Paul Kariya in 1993, Jack Eichel in 2015, and Adam Fantilli in 2023.
His dominant college season established him as the top prospect for the 2024 NHL entry draft and helped Boston University emerge as one of the premier programs in college hockey.
NHL Breakthrough (2024–25 Season)
Celebrini was drafted first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL entry draft and signed a three-year entry-level contract on July 6, 2024. He made his NHL debut on October 10, 2024, scoring his first goal and assist in a 5–4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. He went on to lead all NHL forwards in puck battle wins per game during the first half of the season.
On April 9, 2025, against the Minnesota Wild, Celebrini scored his first NHL hat-trick, becoming the first rookie to record a hat-trick during the 2024–25 season. In 70 games, he finished with 25 goals and 63 points, tying for second among rookies with Matvei Michkov behind Lane Hutson. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.
Off the ice, Celebrini and other Sharks players hosted a five-year-old cancer survivor in partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in early April 2025, after the child expressed a wish to meet him.
San Jose Sharks Era (2024–Present)
Celebrini carried his momentum into the 2025–26 season, temporarily becoming the NHL’s leading scorer with 23 points in the first 15 games, only the third player to reach that mark after Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman. He recorded a hat-trick and two assists in a five-point night against the New York Rangers, and added another hat-trick against the Utah Mammoth in a 3–2 win later that season.
On March 30, he became the sixth teenager in NHL history, after Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Jimmy Carson, and Sidney Crosby, to reach 100 points in a season. On April 16, he recorded a goal and two assists against the Winnipeg Jets to reach 115 points, breaking Joe Thornton’s franchise record of 114 points in a single season for the Sharks. Fourth in league scoring, Celebrini was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given by the National Hockey League Players’ Association to the most outstanding player in the NHL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Celebrini is recognized for his puck battle strength, creativity in the offensive zone, and strong two-way play. His ability to win puck battles at a high rate, combined with his vision and finishing touch, has made him a central offensive driver for the Sharks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his Calder Trophy finalist finish and Hobey Baker Award, Celebrini broke Joe Thornton’s single-season franchise scoring record, earned a Ted Lindsay Award finalist nod, and represented Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he became the youngest NHL player ever to play for the Canadian men’s Olympic team.
Macklin Celebrini Career Wins
Celebrini’s career highlights include winning the Hobey Baker Award, multiple Hockey East honours, the USHL Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Forward of the Year awards, and an Olympic silver medal with Canada in 2026.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL, Celebrini’s first goal came on debut against the St. Louis Blues on October 10, 2024, and his first career hat-trick came against the Minnesota Wild on April 9, 2025. He has since added multiple hat-tricks during the 2025–26 season, including a five-point performance against the New York Rangers, and broke the Sharks’ single-season points record previously held by Joe Thornton.
Other Wins and Performances
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Celebrini opened the scoring for Canada in a 5–0 win over the Czech Republic, surpassing Jonathan Toews to become the youngest Canadian NHL player to score an Olympic goal. He was named to the Olympic All-Star Team, and at the 2026 World Championship he captained Canada, led the team with 14 points in 10 games, and was named Best Forward and to the All-Star Team.
Macklin Celebrini Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Celebrini comes from an athletic family with deep ties to professional sports. His father, Rick Celebrini, played soccer for the Vancouver 86ers and later worked as a physiotherapist for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC before joining the Golden State Warriors as director of sports medicine and performance. His older brother, Aiden, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023, and his younger brother, R.J., is also a hockey player at the junior level.
Personal Life
Celebrini currently lives with former San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton. During San Jose’s Pride Night in 2025, he was one of several Sharks players who taped their sticks with Pride or rainbow tape, explaining that he wanted to show his support through the gesture.
2025 Season Performance
Celebrini’s 2025 calendar featured a strong start to his second NHL season with the Sharks, highlighted by a record-breaking offensive pace. He opened the 2025–26 NHL season with 23 points in 15 games, temporarily leading the entire league in scoring, a mark previously reached only by Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman. He produced multiple multi-goal performances, including hat-tricks against the New York Rangers and the Utah Mammoth.
Beyond the NHL, Celebrini was named to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics on December 31, 2025, and went on to play a key role in Milan, skating on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. He was named to the Olympic All-Star Team as Canada earned a silver medal.
Celebrini finished the NHL regular season fourth in league scoring and was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, capping a year that established him as one of the league’s brightest young stars and a central building block for the Sharks’ future.
