Macklin Celebrini was contemplating his next hockey stop.
The teenage star poised to join the U.S. college hockey ranks for the 2023-24 season had plenty of NCAA schools pining for his services back in June 2022.
The NBA Finals B次元官网网址� more specifically, the teams involved B次元官网网址� would provide a twist that eventually sealed the Vancouver productB次元官网网址檚 collegiate destination.
And help propel him onto CanadaB次元官网网址檚 roster for the 2024 world junior hockey championship.
CelebriniB次元官网网址檚 dad, Rick, is director of sports medicine and performance for the Golden State Warriors, who were facing the Boston Celtics for the Larry OB次元官网网址橞rien Trophy that spring.
Boston University menB次元官网网址檚 hockey head coach Jay Pandolfo had already scouted the younger Celebrini during his two years dominating the stats page at Shattuck-St. MaryB次元官网网址檚, a prep school in Minnesota whose alumni include Sidney Crosby.
Pandolfo took a shot and reached out to Rick Celebrini with the Warriors in town for Games 3 and 4.
B次元官网网址淚f we could ever get a Macklin Celebrini, we were certainly going to try,B次元官网网址� Pandolfo recalled. B次元官网网址淓nded up meeting with Rick. The relationship built from there.B次元官网网址�
When the Warriors-Celtics series made it back to Boston for Game 6 B次元官网网址� three days after MacklinB次元官网网址檚 16th birthday B次元官网网址� the whole family was in tow.
B次元官网网址淲asnB次元官网网址檛 really thinking about Boston schools,B次元官网网址� said Macklin Celebrini, who has three siblings. B次元官网网址淭hen we visited, met all the coaches, and it was pretty set from there.B次元官网网址�
The 17-year-old centre, whose parents played high-level soccer, has dominated college hockey this season as a freshman with 10 goals and 25 points in 15 games for the Terriers.
Celebrini is now looking to do the same with Canada.
B次元官网网址淵ou dream about putting on the jersey,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ne of the most special things.B次元官网网址�
Celebrini is expected be a key offensive piece at the under-20 tournament, which opens Tuesday in Gothenburg, Sweden.
B次元官网网址淰ery special player,B次元官网网址� said centre Conor Geekie. B次元官网网址淓xcited for things to come for him.B次元官网网址�
The presumptive top selection at JuneB次元官网网址檚 NHL draft, Celebrini was in the company of elite athletes from a young age. Before the family moved to California, RickB次元官网网址檚 resume included time working with Olympians, the Vancouver Canucks, the NFLB次元官网网址檚 Seattle Seahawks and Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Whitecaps.
B次元官网网址淪ome of the best athletes in the world,B次元官网网址� Macklin said. B次元官网网址淗e relays the messages B次元官网网址� what to do and what not to do. How important the little details are and how can it change your whole process.B次元官网网址�
The younger Celebrini, who watched Golden State clinch the title in Game 6 some 19 months ago, remembers being in awe watching Warriors star Stephen Curry go about his business away from the cameras.
Pandolfo has no doubt that exposure helped the six-foot, 190-pound teenager excel in hockey.
B次元官网网址淕olden State is an incredible organization,B次元官网网址� said the former NHL forward, who also has MacklinB次元官网网址檚 older brother, Aiden, with the Terriers. B次元官网网址淵ou see what it takes to win championships, how the guys handle themselves. Being around that is invaluable.B次元官网网址�
Macklin Celebrini said having his dad around this summer as he recovered from shoulder surgery was a huge benefit in preparation for the rigours of the NCAA B次元官网网址� a league with players sometimes eight years his senior.
B次元官网网址淪omething in the back of my mind,B次元官网网址� said last seasonB次元官网网址檚 USHL player of the year with the Chicago Steel. B次元官网网址淢aking sure I was ready for that physicality.B次元官网网址�
That preparation helped in college hockey and at CanadaB次元官网网址檚 selection camp, where he was a star attraction B次元官网网址� some teammates mentioned him in the same breath as Connor Bedard B次元官网网址� from the first practice.
B次元官网网址淧uck finds him,B次元官网网址� said head coach Alan Letang. B次元官网网址淐omes as advertised.B次元官网网址�
Pandolfo said a player with maturity beyond his 17 years arrived at school.
B次元官网网址淕reat offensive instincts, an attack mentality,B次元官网网址� said the ex-Boston Bruins assistant. B次元官网网址淏ut he cares just as much about the defensive side. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 cheat the game.B次元官网网址�
Pandolfo added that for all the on-ice skill, CelebriniB次元官网网址檚 approach when no oneB次元官网网址檚 watching has been equally impressive.
B次元官网网址淰ery good self-assessment skills,B次元官网网址� Pandolfo said. B次元官网网址淯nderstands things he needs to improve on, and he wants to attack those things.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he way he works off the ice, the details he has on the ice, the extra work he puts in all areas B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 what gives you confidence. He knows.B次元官网网址�
The NCAA numbers jump off the page. They arenB次元官网网址檛 a shock to Celebrini.
B次元官网网址淛ust playing my game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淕ot off to a good start. Gonna try to keep going.B次元官网网址�
Macklin Celebrini hasnB次元官网网址檛 lived in Canada in quite some time, with stops in California, Minnesota, Illinois and now Massachusetts B次元官网网址� thanks to that NBA Finals pivot B次元官网网址� all key parts in his hockey journey.
But make no mistake where the talented forwardB次元官网网址檚 heart lies as his country looks for a third straight gold medal at the world juniors.
B次元官网网址淐anadaB次元官网网址檚 home,B次元官网网址� Celebrini said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l always be home.B次元官网网址�
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
