BOSTON | What did you do when you were 17? Macklin Celebrini is already dominating the NCAA and is slowly but surely confirming why many consider him a worthy successor to Connor Bedard as the very first pick in the next NHL draft.
In his first six NCAA games, Celebrini scored eight goals and three assists for a total of 11 points. And all this despite the fact that he is the youngest player in the tournament: he turns 18 in June.
And these impressive numbers were no coincidence, something we immediately understood when we asked Lane Hutson about them last week. When he heard the name Celebrini, the Canadian hopeful flashed a very big smile.
“The enthusiasm for him is completely justified. I haven’t seen a player like him in a long time and the proof is that he continues to perform well at a higher level. He’s a guy who works to get better every day and it’s really special to have him here with us.”
Good words from head coach Jay Pandolfo, who is not afraid to use him in all variations anyway: both in his front row and in terms of advantages and disadvantages.
“At 17 it’s not easy to play in this league and he was excellent. He is one of the most dedicated players I have ever seen and he works every day. Although he is an excellent offensive player, he never cheats. Our defensive structure is a little different and puts a lot of pressure on the middle players and he got used to it very quickly.
Rich Gagnon
A point that makes the young center player particularly proud, who, beyond the goals and points, is already taking care of his defensive game like a young veteran.
When the Journal visited Boston last week, we saw that these were not just empty words. At the end of the first period, on October 27, during a game against UMass, he helped defenseman Lane Hutson recover a puck deep in the defensive zone before orchestrating the attack and finishing with his sixth goal of the season.
“It’s always been something I’ve been passionate about. I realized that it’s easier to play offensively if you spend as little time as possible in the defensive zone. The better you are defensively, the better you are at winning pucks back and going back on offense. »
His father works in the NBA
There is nothing conventional about the Celebrini’s journey. He was born in Vancouver and grew up in an environment that revolved around sports as his father Rick, a former professional soccer player, was director of sports medicine for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS.
In 2018, when Macklin was 13 years old, Rick was promoted when the NBA’s Golden State Warriors hired him in the same role. The family then left Western Canada for California and settled in the San Jose area.
Macklin Celebrini’s father Rick works with Kevin Durant on October 10, 2018. AFP
“The first year we moved, I spent a lot of time at Warriors games. It was special to be with an NBA team. After that I left in the winter so I wasn’t there but this summer I used the facilities during my rehabilitation. It helped me,” said the man who missed most of last year’s series with the USHL’s Chicago Steel due to a shoulder injury.
The reason he says he left over the winter is because in 2020 he joined the prestigious Shattuck-St. connected. Mary’s, Minnesota, where Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews stopped by.
“I spent the two best years of my life there. Their resources are endless to support your development.”
The first pick in the next draft?
There’s still a lot to play for, but many expect Celebrini to be the next first pick in the draft.
This top status may come with some pressure or at least increased media attention. Nothing bothers the young phenom, assures his brother Aiden, a Canucks prospect who is also wearing the Terriers colors this season.
“I’m biased, but he’s been in this situation his whole life where he has to be the alpha, and through it all he’s remained humble and his work ethic hasn’t changed. He’s the same guy he was. If anyone can handle all this attention, it’s him.”