Rick Celebrini and his family had a decision to make.
The well-known physiotherapist in the Vancouver area, with a resume that included working alongside Canadian Olympians, basketball icon Steve Nash, the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Canucks and Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 Whitecaps, was weighing two NBA job offers in 2018.
The Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.
There was plenty to consider B次元官网网址� including hockey.
Macklin Celebrini, the second of Rick and wife RobynB次元官网网址檚 four children, was a budding star. What would a warmer climate do for the youngsterB次元官网网址檚 development?
B次元官网网址淲e visited San Antonio,B次元官网网址� Rick Celebrini recalled. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no real youth hockey.B次元官网网址�
He reached out to San Jose Sharks defenceman and former client Brent Burns to ask about the San Francisco Bay Area.
Burns spoke highly of the Jr. Sharks program. Celebrini got in touch to ensure Macklin could play up a year.
B次元官网网址淚t was important he be challenged,B次元官网网址� Rick said. B次元官网网址淚t was a good group.B次元官网网址�
That made things easier. The Warriors were the choice. The family would relocate to California.
Some six years later, the Celebrinis will be in sizzling Las Vegas to watch Macklin live out his dream.
The star centre from Boston University is expected to be selected by San Jose, the team from what amounts to his second hometown, with the No. 1 pick Friday at the NHL draft inside the glitzy Sphere auditorium.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 nervous, IB次元官网网址檓 excited,B次元官网网址� Macklin Celebrini said. B次元官网网址淚 have different emotions about it. IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to it, though. People say, B次元官网网址楨njoy it, only happens once in your life.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really going to.B次元官网网址�
Celebrini, who turned 18 this month, became the youngest-ever winner of the Hobey Baker Award when he was named the NCAAB次元官网网址檚 top player in 2023-24 after putting up 32 goals and 64 points in 38 contests.
B次元官网网址淭he physicality of the play, the maturity of the game,B次元官网网址� the six-foot, 190-pound forward said when asked why he chose U.S. college hockey over Canadian major junior. B次元官网网址淧laying against those older guys B次元官网网址� you canB次元官网网址檛 really get away with a lot.B次元官网网址�
Despite missing his friends following the move from North Vancouver, B.C., Celebrini said being around the Warriors helped push him.
Not every kid gets to watch NBA stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson go about their business on a daily basis.
B次元官网网址淛ust seeing the different things they do to prepare themselves, prepare their bodies,B次元官网网址� said Celebrini, who again hit the road to play at Shattuck-St. MaryB次元官网网址檚 School, Sidney CrosbyB次元官网网址檚 Minnesota alma mater, with older brother Aiden after one season with the Jr. Sharks.
Dad said MacklinB次元官网网址檚 sports osmosis started even further back when he used to witness Nash B次元官网网址� a future Hall of Famer B次元官网网址� go through gruelling summer training sessions while he played off to the side.
B次元官网网址淎nd then my work with the Whitecaps and the Canucks,B次元官网网址� said Rick Celebrini, the WarriorsB次元官网网址� vice-president of player health and performance. B次元官网网址淪eeing how these guys prepare, how these guys train, the hard work that goes into it B次元官网网址� not just when the lights are on and the TV cameras are on.B次元官网网址�
Macklin and Aiden, his teammate at Boston University and a Canucks draft pick, then really started to pay attention on their own hanging around Golden StateB次元官网网址檚 practice facility.
B次元官网网址淭hat key time in an athleteB次元官网网址檚 development,B次元官网网址� Rick said. B次元官网网址淎n incredible motivating and educational opportunity.B次元官网网址�
There was also plenty of education growing up in Greater Vancouver. Rick, who along with Robyn was a soccer player, said it didnB次元官网网址檛 take long to realize Macklin thought hockey differently.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure he picked it up watching TV,B次元官网网址� Rick said of one standout sequence. B次元官网网址淏ut heB次元官网网址檚 looking at the score clock, heB次元官网网址檚 looking at bench, heB次元官网网址檚 directing his guys at the faceoff.
B次元官网网址淭hey were five years old. Like, thatB次元官网网址檚 ridiculous.B次元官网网址�
And as the hockey got more serious, so did Macklin.
B次元官网网址淯ltracompetitive,B次元官网网址� Rick said. B次元官网网址淎 kid is better than him, heB次元官网网址檚 going to try to keep raising his game and practice more. Whether itB次元官网网址檚 an individual or a team, heB次元官网网址檚 always looking to beat the next best.B次元官网网址�
That goes back to his days at the North Shore Winter Club B次元官网网址� the familyB次元官网网址檚 North Star for many years.
Connor Bedard, who went No. 1 to the Chicago Blackhawks a year ago, just so happened to be one of the kids kicking around the North Vancouver institution.
B次元官网网址淐onnor was a big influence on Mac,B次元官网网址� said the elder Celebrini. B次元官网网址淎nd hopefully Mac was a good influence on Connor. They created a situation where they pushed each other and competed.B次元官网网址�
Rick Celebrini has watched plenty of athletes prepare and perform under a microscope.
MacklinB次元官网网址檚 run through a gauntlet thatB次元官网网址檚 included the world junior hockey championship, the NCAA Frozen Four tournament and the NHL draft combine has impressed the family patriarch.
B次元官网网址淓xtremely proud of how heB次元官网网址檚 handled all the pressure,B次元官网网址� Rick said. B次元官网网址淎nswered all the questions, conducted himself in a respectful, humble manner. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a lot.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檒l be exhausted at the end of it all.B次元官网网址�
Then the training starts anew.
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