{"id":115705,"date":"2026-01-01T01:58:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T01:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/115705\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T01:58:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T01:58:13","slug":"when-why-did-canada-pick-celebrini-for-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/115705\/","title":{"rendered":"When, Why Did Canada Pick Celebrini for Olympics?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Macklin Celebrini has officially made Team Canada\u2019s roster for the 2026 Olympics.<\/p>\n

The San Jose Sharks superstar center was announced as part of the roster by Canada GM Doug Armstrong on Wednesday morning. The 19-year-old is the first NHL teenager to be selected by Canada for the Olympics, since NHL\u2019ers started going to the Olympics in 1998.<\/p>\n

Here are the 2\u20e35\u20e3 players who will wear the \ud83c\udf41 at #MilanoCortina2026<\/a>! \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n

Voici les 2\u20e35\u20e3 joueurs qui porteront la \ud83c\udf41 \u00e0 Milan-Cortina! \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n

ROSTER: https:\/\/t.co\/5I8Uz2Psfa<\/a>
FORMATION : https:\/\/t.co\/zbOWuEgdPQ<\/a>@TeamCanada<\/a> | @Equipe_Canada<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dTc1YKengx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Armstrong says that the Canadian braintrust decided on Celebrini by early December.<\/p>\n

An unusual number of GMs in Dallas for Sharks-Stars, 4 of them, Nill, Dubas & Brisebois (all Team Canada and Pens playing here Sunday) and Grier<\/p>\n

\u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The St. Louis GM shared a hilarious anecdote, about telling Celebrini that he was on the Olympic radar last season in St. Louis. The-then rookie proceeded to score two goals and an assist to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-3 victory over the Blues on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n

When did Mack make the team? \u2b07\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Canada’s GM Doug Armstrong discusses Macklin Celebrini making the roster for the Winter Olympics. pic.twitter.com\/nTAQ1h7zjG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll always have those conversations after the game, moving forward,\u201d Armstrong quipped.<\/p>\n

So when did San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky know that the super sophomore had taken a leap as a player?<\/p>\n

Celebrini had a strong rookie campaign, finishing third in the Calder Trophy voting, but he was probably on the outside looking in for Team Canada at the beginning of training camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it started probably over the summer. He had a really good summer of training,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cHe was in even better shape than he was last year, which is to say a lot. Looked like he got stronger. Looked like he was on a mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Celebrini\u2019s 60 points is third in the NHL behind Olympic teammates Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Celebrini\u2019s 21 goals and 39 assists means that he\u2019s been directly involved in 50.4 percent of his team\u2019s total offense.<\/p>\n

But of course, it\u2019s not just the offense that has got the teen onto the deepest national hockey roster in the world. Canada\u2019s got plenty of offense, young and old.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way he plays a 200-foot game, the way he defends, the way he competes for pucks, how physical he is, I think that\u2019s what probably set him apart,\u201d Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n

So will Warsofsky, who led USA to a 2025 World Championship gold medal, now help the Americans with a plan to stop Celebrini?<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ll be sitting there on my couch watching it,\u201d Warsofsky laughed. \u201cThough that\u2019d be the one time I root against Mack.\u201d<\/p>\n

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