Macklin Celebrini

Macklin Richard Celebrini was born in Vancouver, Canada, and grew up supporting the Vancouver Canucks. His father, Rick Celebrini, played soccer for the Vancouver 86ers, worked as a physiotherapist for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and later became vice president of player health and performance for the Golden State Warriors. Celebrini's mother is Robyn Celebrini.

Celebrini is the second of four children. His older brother, Aiden Celebrini, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023, and the brothers played together at Boston University during the 2023-24 season. His younger siblings are Charlie, a tennis player, and R.J., a junior hockey player. Celebrini is of Croatian descent through his paternal grandfather, Anton Celebrini, who was born in Porat on the island of Krk.

Celebrini began playing minor hockey with the North Shore Winter Club in Vancouver before moving with his family to San Jose, where he joined the San Jose Jr. Sharks. He later played at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, recording 50 goals and 67 assists in 52 games during the 2021-22 season.

With the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League in 2022-23, Celebrini led the league with 46 goals and 86 points. He became the second player in USHL history to win Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Forward of the Year, and the first to win all three awards in one season.

Celebrini joined Boston University for the 2023-24 season and recorded 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games. He won Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, became the league's scoring champion and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's college hockey player. At 17, he was the youngest winner in the award's history and only the fourth freshman to receive it.

The San Jose Sharks selected Celebrini first overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and signed him to an entry-level contract. He made his NHL debut on October 10, 2024, against the St. Louis Blues, scoring a goal and an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss. His goal came 7:01 into the first period, the second-fastest first NHL goal by a player selected first overall.

Celebrini missed 12 games with a lower-body injury during his rookie season but returned to win NHL Rookie of the Month for November. He scored his first NHL hat-trick and added two assists against the Minnesota Wild on April 9, 2025, becoming the first Sharks rookie with a five-point game. He finished the season with 25 goals and 63 points, was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and became a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist.

In 2025-26, Celebrini recorded 45 goals and 115 points in 82 games, setting a San Jose Sharks franchise record for points in a single season. He became the first teenager in Sharks history to score 30 goals in a season and the fifth Sharks skater to reach 40 goals. During the summer before his NHL debut, he also spent two weeks preparing for the league with the Hughes family and later lived with former Sharks captain Joe Thornton.

Celebrini made his international debut for Canada's under-17 team at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. At the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, he scored the overtime goal that secured Canada's bronze medal and finished the tournament with 15 points.

At the 2024 World Junior Championship, Celebrini led Canada with four goals and four assists. He made his senior debut at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, recording three goals and three assists in eight games.

Celebrini represented Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he played on the top line with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. He scored five goals and five assists in six games, led the tournament in goals, earned a silver medal and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team. He later captained Canada at the 2026 World Championship, leading the team with 14 points and receiving Best Forward and All-Star Team honours.