VANCOUVER — Macklin Celebrini, the 18-year-old forward and first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, is set to experience a milestone few athletes get the chance to enjoy: playing his first game in his hometown.
This Monday, Celebrini will take to the ice at Rogers Arena, the very rink where he spent his childhood watching his favorite team, the Vancouver Canucks. It’s a surreal moment for the North Vancouver native, who has already marked a series of unforgettable firsts in his young NHL career. On October 10, he scored his first goal and added his first assist in his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues. But this game, against a team he grew up cheering for, will undoubtedly be a highlight.
“Skating here when I was younger, I kind of tried to put myself in an NHL player’s shoes, pretending to be one of them. Now, I’m practicing here and getting ready for the game. It’s pretty surreal,” Celebrini said after a Sharks practice at Rogers Arena on Sunday.
Not only does Celebrini’s NHL debut come in his hometown, but it also carries a deeper connection to the Canucks. His father, Dr. Rick Celebrini, worked with the team as their director of sports medicine and performance from 2014 to 2018 before moving on to a similar role with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. As a child, Macklin would often skate at Rogers Arena with his brother, Aiden, while his father worked for the Canucks.
Celebrini is no stranger to the atmosphere at Rogers Arena. Just a few months ago, in May, he was sitting in the stands with his brother Aiden, watching the Canucks battle the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now, it’s his turn to step onto the ice and play in the building that has shaped so many of his early memories.
“Every time I was here, I’d want to get on that ice, just because the NHL has always been a dream of mine,” he said. “And now, [Monday] is going to be pretty cool as well.”
For the Celebrini family, this game is more than just a homecoming for Macklin. It is also a reunion of sorts, with 50-60 of Macklin’s family and friends set to attend the game to support him. For Rick Celebrini, the trip to Vancouver to watch his son play is a nostalgic return to a city that holds great personal significance.
“This will always be home,” Rick said. “I spent almost 50 years here in Vancouver, and the kids were all born and raised here, and they developed as athletes and as people here. Part of that journey was the four years I spent with the Canucks. So, to see Macklin practicing there today and playing them tomorrow, it’s certainly a full-circle moment.”
The excitement surrounding Macklin’s first game in Vancouver is palpable, and the memories of his childhood are fresh in his mind as well. He recalls fondly the times he and his brother would sneak peeks in the hallway between periods, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of their hockey heroes. “I remember seeing Sidney Crosby in the hallway once, and me and my brother freaking out. And we saw [Daniel and Henrik Sedin] walking by. Those are the memories that stick with you,” he recalled.
Now, as a young NHL star, Celebrini is already drawing comparisons to some of his childhood idols, including Crosby. His coach with the Sharks, Ryan Warsofsky, has noted similarities between the two players, particularly in their two-way play and competitive spirit.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be Sidney Crosby, but there are similarities in their games,” Warsofsky said. “Sidney is a really good 200-foot center, he does not cheat on the other side of the puck, he’s a winner, and Mack has a lot of those same qualities. The skill set is similar. Mack is probably even more dynamic in a sense, and that’s not taking anything away from Crosby, but I see winner written all over Macklin.”
However, Celebrini’s first season in the NHL got off to a rocky start. After scoring his first goal in his NHL debut, he was sidelined for 12 games due to a hip injury. Since his return, though, Celebrini has proven why he was chosen first overall, posting 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in his next 23 games, including eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last six. His offensive output has been crucial in helping the Sharks rebound from a tough start to the season, with San Jose moving to an 11-19-6 record after an 0-8-2 start.
Sharks forward and linemate Tyler Toffoli spoke highly of Celebrini’s abilities on and off the ice. “Not only is he amazing on the ice, but he’s trying to get better every single day. He’s a special player and I think he’s excited to be back home and ready to play.”
For Celebrini, facing off against the Canucks will also be a chance to compete against one of his hockey idols, Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes. Hughes, the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman, is someone Macklin has long admired. “They’ve got a couple of pretty special players. I’m excited to play against Quinn, for sure. He’s someone that I’ve looked up to for a little bit now,” Celebrini said.
Despite now playing for the Sharks, Celebrini still has deep ties to the Canucks. His brother Aiden, also a defenseman, was drafted by Vancouver in the sixth round (No. 171) of the 2023 NHL Draft and plays for Boston University. And Macklin himself still returns to Vancouver in the offseason, often working out with fellow North Vancouver native Connor Bedard, the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 overall pick in 2023.
As he prepares for his first NHL game against the Canucks, Celebrini is keenly aware of the unique situation he finds himself in. “I think the last time I was here in Rogers Arena, I got a Canucks chant going. It was a bittersweet moment because I knew it was going to be the last time,” he said. Now, as a member of the opposing team, Celebrini’s hometown crowd will likely be cheering against him — but for him, this game will always be a special one.
As Macklin Celebrini takes the ice at Rogers Arena on Monday, he will not only be playing his first game in his hometown, but he will also be stepping into the spotlight as one of the NHL’s brightest young stars. With a legacy of hard work and perseverance already in place, his future in the league looks incredibly promising. For now, however, the focus is on the present — a hometown game in Vancouver, where his dreams began, and where they continue to unfold before the eyes of a proud and supportive community.