Celebrini's OT finish sends Team Canada into Olympic hockey semifinals
Team Canada advanced to the Olympic hockey semifinals after a tense 4-3 overtime victory over Team Czechia, and forward Macklin Celebrini delivered an emphatic post-game message about momentum, preparation and the grind that comes with elimination hockey. The win keeps Canada's gold-medal hopes alive and shifts focus quickly to the final four.
Celebrini's post-game reaction
In his post-game remarks, Celebrini emphasized the collective effort required to win in tight, high-pressure games. He credited teammates for sticking with the game plan through adversity and highlighted the mental reset that comes after solving a late-game situation in overtime. Celebrini framed the result as a necessary step rather than an endpoint, stressing that the squad must recover, refine detail work and maintain composure as competition intensifies.
Celebrini also reflected on the emotional energy of playoff-style international hockey, where every moment magnifies the margin for error. He underlined the importance of short memory — celebrating the victory but quickly turning attention toward preparation and the next opponent — and praised the defensive work and timely goaltending that kept Canada in striking distance before the extra-frame resolution.
Bench and supporting voices
Several teammates and staff offered complementary perspectives after the win. Veteran forwards and defensive stands were noted for their reliability in key moments, and the goaltender’s composure in the late stages drew particular mention for giving the offense the chance to press in overtime. Bench voices focused on discipline, puck management and quick recovery ahead of the semifinal timeline.
Coaching staff remarks centered on managing player minutes and balancing rest with maintaining competitive sharpness. The team plans to review game tape, tighten transitional coverages and emphasize special-teams clarity as they prepare for a semifinal opponent that will present its own tactical challenges. The message throughout the locker room was consistent: treat the semifinal like another elimination game with the same attention to detail that produced the quarterfinal victory.
What comes next
With the quarterfinal hurdle cleared, Canada shifts into a condensed preparation window before the semifinal matchup. Expect line and role evaluations, injury monitoring and focused on-ice sessions to dial in systems and set-piece execution. The team’s combination of youth and seasoned internationals will be pitched as an advantage, blending speed and skill with situational experience in high-leverage minutes.
Beyond lineup decisions, the program will prioritize recovery protocols and situational rehearsals — faceoff strategies, late-game defensive zone structures and power-play permutations — all of which can swing tight contests at the medal-deciding stage. Celebrini’s post-game stance captures the broader ethos: control the controllables, and execute the small plays that decide the outcome when margins are thin.
As the tournament moves into the semifinal phase, the narrative will pivot from yesterday’s heroics to questions about depth, matchups and which teams can sustain consistency under pressure. For Team Canada, the overtime win against Czechia is both a confidence boost and a reminder that the road to gold demands sustained excellence across every game.
