Macklin Celebrini

Early Life and Family

Macklin Richard Celebrini was born on June 13, 2006, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to parents Robyn and Rick Celebrini. Both parents played soccer, with Robyn playing collegiately and Rick playing for the Canada under-20 national team and the Vancouver 86ers. After an injury, Rick became a physiotherapist, eventually working for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and later as the director of sports medicine and performance for the NBA's Golden State Warriors starting in 2018. Celebrini grew up as a fan of the Vancouver Canucks and is the second of four children. His older brother, Aiden, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023 and played with Macklin at Boston University. His younger sister, Charlie, plays tennis, and his younger brother, R.J., plays youth ice hockey.

Amateur and Junior Hockey Career

Macklin Celebrini started skating at three years old. He played minor hockey in Vancouver with the North Shore Winter Club before his family moved to the Bay Area when he was 13, where he continued to play in USA Hockey Youth Tier I (AAA) leagues. He spent the 2019-20 season with the San Jose Jr. Sharks 14U AAA program, leading the team with 94 points in 54 games. Celebrini then attended Shattuck-Saint Mary's School in Minnesota, a boarding school with an elite hockey program called the Hockey Center of Excellence. During the 2020-21 season, he recorded 141 points in 50 games for the 14U AAA team, helping them win the Youth Tier I 14U National Championship. In the 2021-22 season, at age 15, he played for the 18U-Prep team, leading them with 117 points in 52 games and winning the Prep Hockey Conference Championship.

For the 2022-23 season, at age 16, Macklin Celebrini signed with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He won the scoring title with 86 points in 50 games, leading all USHL players in both points and goals. Celebrini broke the USHL record for most points ever by an under-17 player. He also broke the Steel franchise records for most single-season power play goals with 21 and most goals in a game with 5. After helping the Steel reach the USHL's Eastern Conference finals, he was named USHL Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Forward of the Year. He became the first player to win all three awards in a single season and was also named to the All-USHL First Team and the All-Rookie First Team.

Collegiate Career and Hobey Baker Award

Celebrini committed to Boston University for the 2023-24 season, playing as a 17-year-old freshman alongside his brother Aiden, and in 38 games he led the nation in points per game (1.69) while finishing second in goals (32) and third in total points (63). His outstanding season was recognized with a sweep of Hockey East conference awards, including Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Scoring Champion, and he became only the fourth player in NCAA history to win both Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Nationally, he was named a First Team All-American and the NCAA Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year, and his freshman season culminated with him winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in U.S. college hockey. At 17 years old, he became the youngest player ever to win the award and only the fourth freshman to do so, following Paul Kariya (1993), Jack Eichel (2015), and Adam Fantilli (2023), and his 63-point season also made him the fourth freshman since 2000 to record at least 30 goals and 30 assists.

Professional Career with the San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini was selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL entry draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks on July 6, 2024. Celebrini made his NHL debut on October 10, 2024, recording his first goal and first assist in a loss to the St. Louis Blues. His goal made him the second-fastest first overall pick to score his first NHL goal, behind only Mario Lemieux, and his two points made him the youngest player in NHL history to record a multi-point game in his debut. He later missed 12 games with a lower-body injury before returning in November. After leading all rookies in goals and points that month, he was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month. Celebrini finished his rookie season with 63 points in 70 games, setting the Sharks' single-season rookie points record. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy and was unanimously named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

On October 8, 2025, Macklin Celebrini was named a home alternate captain for the San Jose Sharks at age 19. He opened the 2025-26 season with 23 points in his first 15 games, briefly leading the NHL in scoring and becoming the third teenager in NHL history to reach that mark, after Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman. Celebrini recorded two hat-tricks during the season, including one with an overtime winner against the Utah Mammoth. On March 30, 2026, he became the sixth teenager in NHL history to record 100 points in a season when he scored against the St. Louis Blues. In the final regular season game on April 16, he recorded a goal and two assists to reach 115 points, breaking Joe Thornton's Sharks single-season points record. The two assists also made him the only teenager besides Gretzky to record at least 40 goals and 70 assists in a single season.

Macklin Celebrini finished the 2025-26 season with 115 points, placing him fourth in league scoring. He factored into 46.2 percent of the Sharks' goals, finished fourth in Hart Memorial Trophy voting, and was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award. The 56-point gap between him and the Sharks' next-highest scorer was the widest on any NHL team since the 1990-91 season. On July 29, 2026, Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks, worth $18.8 million annually. Two months later, on September 25, 2026, he was named the 11th full-time captain in Sharks history, succeeding Logan Couture. At 20 years old, he became the youngest captain in franchise history.

International Career

Macklin Celebrini made his international debut for Canada with the under-17 team at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. The following year, he scored the bronze medal-winning goal in overtime for the under-18 team at the 2023 World U18 Championships. At the 2024 World Junior Championships, he led Team Canada in scoring with four goals and four assists. Celebrini made his senior team debut at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, recording three goals and three assists for six points in eight games as Canada finished in fifth place. He was named to Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics at age 19, becoming the youngest NHL player ever named to the Canadian men's Olympic team.

Playing on the top line with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, Celebrini recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points in six games, helping Canada win a silver medal after a loss to the United States in the final. He scored Canada's first goal of the tournament, becoming the youngest Canadian NHL player to score an Olympic goal, and later scored the first penalty-shot goal by an NHL player in Olympics history, and he was named to the Olympic All-Star Team after leading the tournament in goals and setting records for the most goals and points by a teenager in an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. Later in 2026, Celebrini served as captain of Canada's team at the IIHF World Championship, becoming the second-youngest player to captain Canada's senior team after Roy Heximer in 1938, and he led the tournament with 14 points in 10 games, was named Best Forward and to the All-Star Team, though Canada finished fourth after a bronze medal game loss to Norway. On July 9, 2026, he was named the IIHF Male Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, receiving 40.8 percent of the vote.

Personal Life and Off-Ice Profile

Macklin Celebrini is of Croatian descent through his paternal grandfather, Anton Celebrini, who was born in Porat, a village on the island of Krk. He lived with former San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton and his family for his first two NHL seasons. As of August 2026, he lives with teammate and close friend Will Smith. Celebrini is an exclusive brand ambassador for CCM Hockey and has endorsement agreements with Chipotle, Sony, Lululemon, and Tim Hortons. In May 2026, he partnered with Airbnb for a promotional campaign tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup match in Toronto, hosting a specialized soccer camp. He also serves as the Pacific region ambassador for the Kruger Big Assist program, supporting minor hockey associations, and is a brand ambassador with the OpenRoad Foundation for philanthropic initiatives across British Columbia and Ontario.

On June 14, 2026, Macklin Celebrini was announced as the cover athlete for the NHL 27 video game. He became the youngest player to appear on the cover and the first Shark to do so since Owen Nolan in NHL 2001. In August 2026, a one-of-one Celebrini rookie card from Upper Deck's 2024-25 Young Guns Outburst Gold set sold at auction for $1.28 million. This sale was the highest publicly recorded sale for an ice hockey card featuring any player other than Wayne Gretzky.

Career Statistics and Milestones

Macklin Celebrini's rookie season totals of 63 points set a San Jose Sharks franchise record for single-season rookie points. His follow-up campaign of 115 points broke the Sharks' single-season points record previously held by Joe Thornton. His international statistics include a 10-point performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. These career statistics through the 2025-26 NHL season illustrate his rapid ascent and record-setting pace.

Key milestones from Macklin Celebrini's early career include becoming the fastest rookie in Sharks history to reach 40 points, doing so in only 45 games. On November 29, 2025, he became the fastest Sharks draft pick to reach 100 career points. He is the only teenager besides Wayne Gretzky to record at least 40 goals and 70 assists in a single season. His 115-point sophomore season created a 56-point gap between him and the Sharks' next-highest scorer, the widest such margin on any NHL team since the 1990-91 season. He factored into 46.2 percent of the team's total goals that year, surpassing Gretzky's teenage mark of 45.5 percent.

Awards and Honours

Throughout his amateur and professional career, Macklin Celebrini has accumulated a significant number of awards and honours. These include USHL Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Forward of the Year awards from 2023. He won the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman at Boston University in 2024. In the NHL, he was a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist and was unanimously named to the All-Rookie Team in 2025. Internationally, he was named to the Olympic All-Star Team in 2026 and was named the IIHF Male Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season.

• USHL (2022-23): Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Forward of the Year. All-USHL First Team. All-Rookie First Team. Scoring Champion.
• NCAA (2023-24): Hobey Baker Award. Hockey East Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Scoring Champion. NCAA Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year. First Team All-American.
• NHL (2024-25): Calder Memorial Trophy finalist (3rd place). NHL All-Rookie Team (unanimous). November Rookie of the Month.
• NHL (2025-26): Hart Memorial Trophy finalist (4th place). Ted Lindsay Award finalist. NHL Second All-Star Team.
• International (2026): Olympic Silver Medal. Olympic All-Star Team. IIHF World Championship Best Forward. IIHF World Championship All-Star Team. IIHF Male Player of the Year.
• Franchise Records: San Jose Sharks single-season points leader (115). Sharks rookie single-season points record (63). Youngest captain in Sharks history.

Questions about Macklin Celebrini

What records did Macklin Celebrini set as a rookie?

In his rookie 2024-25 season, Macklin Celebrini set several records. He became the youngest player in NHL history to record a multi-point game in his debut. He became the fastest rookie in Sharks history to reach 40 points, doing so in 45 games. He set the Sharks' single-season rookie points record with 63 points. His 25 goals were the most ever by an 18-year-old in Sharks history. He was also the first rookie to record a hat-trick in the 2024-25 season when he scored three times against the Minnesota Wild on April 9, 2025.

How did Macklin Celebrini perform at the 2026 Olympics?

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Macklin Celebrini recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points in six games, helping Canada win a silver medal. He set records for the most goals and points by a teenager in an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. He led the entire tournament in goals and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team. He also scored the first penalty-shot goal by an NHL player in Olympic history during a preliminary game against France.

When did Macklin Celebrini become captain of the San Jose Sharks?

Macklin Celebrini was named the 11th full-time captain in San Jose Sharks history on September 25, 2026, succeeding Logan Couture. At 20 years old, he became the youngest captain in franchise history. He is the sixth-youngest captain in NHL history and was the youngest active captain in the league for the 2026-27 season. He had previously been named a home alternate captain on October 8, 2025.

What major endorsement deals does Macklin Celebrini have?

Macklin Celebrini is an exclusive brand ambassador for CCM Hockey. He also has endorsement agreements with Chipotle, Sony, Lululemon, and Tim Hortons, the latter for the 2026-27 Upper Deck hockey card collection. In May 2026, he partnered with Airbnb for a promotional campaign tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He serves as the Pacific region ambassador for the Kruger Big Assist program and is a brand ambassador with the OpenRoad Foundation.

Where is Macklin Celebrini from?

Macklin Celebrini is from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was born there on June 13, 2006, and grew up as a fan of his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Celebrini played his minor hockey with the North Shore Winter Club in Vancouver. His family moved to the Bay Area in California when he was 13 years old, where he continued his youth hockey career. He often returns to his hometown to train, including sessions with fellow North Vancouver native Connor Bedard during the summer of 2025.

What is Macklin Celebrini's contract with the San Jose Sharks?

Macklin Celebrini's contract with the San Jose Sharks is a five year, $94 million extension. This contract, signed on July 29, 2026, carries an average annual value of $18.8 million. It was finalized less than a month after he became eligible for a contract extension. The new deal is set to begin at the start of the 2027 28 NHL season. Prior to this, Celebrini had signed a standard three year entry level contract with the Sharks on July 6, 2024, after being drafted first overall.

Sources and further reading

• Macklin Celebrini (Wikipedia)
• Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada, Olympic.ca (olympic.ca)
• Macklin Celebrini, Men's Ice Hockey (goterriers.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.