San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini Set to Become Youngest Canadian Olympian in NHL Era at Milan

Macklin Celebrini received a phone call on December 31 that would change his life. Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong delivered the news that the San Jose Sharks forward had been dreaming about since childhood.

The 19-year-old was named to Team Canada's 25-player roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. When Celebrini takes the ice on February 12 against the Czech Republic, he will become the youngest player to represent Canada at the Olympics with NHL players.

Macklin Celebrini became part of elite company with his Olympic selection

Armstrong told the teenager he made the team and expressed excitement about the group heading to Italy. Celebrini immediately called his parents to share the moment after hanging up with the general manager.

The previous youngest Canadian Olympians in the NHL era were considerably older than Celebrini. Drew Doughty was 20 when he played for Canada in 2010, while Jonathan Toews was 21 at that same tournament. Rick Nash was 21 at the 2006 Olympics, and Simon Gagne was 21 in 2002.

"It's all surreal," Celebrini said after posting a goal and assist in the Sharks' 4-3 shootout win over Minnesota on Wednesday. "I'm just really excited and focused on how special it is to represent my country at the Olympics."

The magnitude of representing an entire nation was not lost on the North Vancouver native. He acknowledged the weight that comes with wearing the maple leaf on the Olympic stage.

"When you think about representing Canada at the Olympics, you realize you're one group representing the entire country," Celebrini said. "So many athletes work their whole lives for that chance, and it means something extra to be part of that."

Celebrini has backed up his Olympic selection with dominant play for the Sharks. The center ranks fourth in NHL scoring with 81 points through 54 games, trailing only fellow Canadians Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon and Russian superstar Nikita Kucherov.

His 28 goals and 53 assists have the Sharks firmly in the Western Conference playoff race. San Jose sits with 58 points, just five points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second wild card spot heading into the Olympic break.

The first overall pick from the 2024 draft finished as a Calder Trophy finalist last season after posting 63 points in his rookie campaign. He has already surpassed his rookie assist total of 38 in 31 fewer games this season.

Canada opens Olympic play on February 12 against the Czech Republic before facing Switzerland on February 13. The gold medal game is scheduled for February 22 as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

The Sharks return to action on February 26 against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center. San Jose will have nine games remaining after the Olympic break to secure their first playoff berth since 2019.


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