After 12 years of waiting for NHL players to return to the Winter Olympics, San Jose Sharks’ 19-year-old star Macklin Celebrini scored Canada’s first goal against Czechia late in the first period of their opening game of the Milano Cortina 2026 men’s hockey tournament from Milano Santagiulia Arena on Thursday.

He found plenty of company on the scoresheet as Canada dominated Czechia in a 5-0 win, with Jordan Binnington picking up a 26-save shutout.

Celebrini found the back of the net on a tip-in with just six seconds remaining in the opening period. Connor McDavid and Cale Makar picked up assists on the goal.

The first-overall pick in 2024, second-year player Celebrini has been one of the NHL’s top point producers this season, scoring 28 goals and 53 assists over 55 games with the Sharks.

Celebrini was just seven-years-old in early 2014 when Sidney Crosby led the Canadians to their second straight Olympic gold medal, the last time NHL players competed at the Winter Olympics. He became just the seventh teenager a point in an Olympic tournament involving NHL players and first since Aleksander Barkov and Valeri Nichushkin joined the list at Sochi 2014.

Celebrini was joined on the scoresheet in the second period by Mark Stone, who tapped in a pass from Vegas Golden Knights teammate Mitch Marner. Bo Horvat added a breakaway beauty later in the frame as Canada went up 3-0 after 40 minutes.

Nathan MacKinnon added a power-play goal in the third period, with Nick Suzuki contributing a goal as Canada pulled away 5-0.

MacKinnon appeared to score the game’s first goal about eight minutes into the opening period, but it was immediately called back as Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki was called for a tripping penalty.

Canada was able to kill off the penalty to keep the game scoreless at the time.

St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, who helped Canada win gold at last year’s Four Nations Face-Off, got the start in net. Lukas Dostal of the Anaheim Ducks was between the pipes for Czechia.

After taking on Czechia on Thursday, Canada will play Switzerland on Friday before closing preliminary round action on Sunday against France.

Finishing first in group play will earn Canada a direct entry into the quarter-final round.