Bruce Richardson admits he’s rarely been more impressed by a hockey player than 16-year-old Macklin Celebrini.
• Also read: World Under-18 Hockey: An absolutely disgraceful performance by Canada
While it’s only a matter of time before Connor Bedard becomes the first-ever pick in the 2023 draft, one name is already floating around as a successor and potential first-in-class in 2024, and that’s Celebrini.
Aside from already having a star name, it looks like he also has the skills to be the first-ever player to be drafted in just over a year. As assistant coach of the Canada team currently competing at the U18 World Cup in Switzerland, Richardson quickly understood why the young man from British Columbia was so enthusiastic.
“He’s really good,” said Richardson from Porrentruy, Switzerland. He has an incredible hockey head, intelligence, good skills and good skating. What surprised me the most about him was his physical commitment. I had seen him at the World Under-17 Challenge and he wasn’t that involved. Now that he’s playing with older players, you can see he has hockey in him. Also, he is a very humble young person and is focused on becoming the best possible player.
Important role
Despite his young age, Celebrini was destined to feature prominently with the Canada team. In the team’s first game Thursday, he played on the front row with two top draft prospects: Colby Barlow and Andrew Cristall.
“It’s rare that a player impresses me so much. Er, you see he’s in a class by himself. I’m excited to see how he develops at Boston University,” adds Richardson.
Because although he is Canadian, Celebrini chose the American college path and therefore spent the last season with the Chicago Steel in the United States Junior League (USHL). His 86 points in 50 games broke the record for most points by a player under the age of 17 in league history.
And the Quebecers?
We couldn’t have Richardson on the phone without telling him about the very weak Quebec delegation at the U18 national team. Only 16-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel D’Aigle has earned a place in the team.
But be warned, at this tournament, held annually while several Canadian Hockey League (CHL) teams are still in the playoffs, it’s not uncommon for some good elements to be missing.
That’s what played against the QMJHL this year, concedes Richardson, who asserts that Ethan Gauthier, Mathieu Cataford and Étienne Morin would have been in the tournament had their QMJHL team been eliminated.
“We all watched Game 7 [entre Moncton et Baie-Comeau]. If Moncton lost, Morin would sit on the plane and come here. The 2005 vintage in Quebec is more difficult. Next year there will be more.”
The forgotten player who has raised the most questions is Shawinigan Cataractes defender Jordan Tourigny, who was with Team Canada at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.
“We’re not building a star team, we’re building a team that wins the gold medal,” explains Richardson. Jordan Tourigny, maybe in his style, there were maybe four defenders in front of him. For places 5, 6 or 7, we might need players who could play other roles.
In addition, Canada did not get off to the best possible start in its gold rush on Thursday, when the national team was knocked out 8-0 by Sweden at the end of the competition.