Macklin Celebrini’s Olympic run has Warriors and Sharks glued to the gold medal game
macklin celebrini, the 19-year-old Vancouver native and the No. 1 pick by the San Jose Sharks in 2024, plays Team USA for Olympic gold on Sunday — a match that has both the Golden State Warriors and the Sharks intensely engaged.
Warriors stopped practice to watch the closing minutes
SAN FRANCISCO — As the Warriors readied a Friday morning film session at Chase Center, coach Steve Kerr said the staff and players were distracted by a tight Olympic game in Milan, Italy, roughly 6, 000 miles away. "We had half the team watching the final two minutes of the game, " Kerr said after Saturday’s practice, adding that "it was 2-2, and it was 10 o'clock, and we're supposed to be starting film. Nope, we're gonna watch to see what happens. "
Family ties: Rick Celebrini at the center of Bay Area attention
Much of the Bay Area interest traces to Celebrini’s father, Rick, who has been the Warriors’ vice president of player health and performance since 2018. Rick stayed in Los Angeles for a couple of extra days after a recent road trip to be there for Jimmy Butler's ACL surgery, then flew to Milan to be with his family and cheer on his son. Kerr said the club could see the pride in Rick’s eyes and hear it in his voice as Team Canada advanced toward the gold-medal game.
Macklin Celebrini’s rise has Sharks marketing buzzing
San Jose’s front office has seen concrete returns. Sharks chief marketing officer Doug Bentz said the Olympic spectacle is drawing people in and that Celebrini’s performances are becoming must-watch. Since landing in Milan two weeks ago, Celebrini’s Instagram following has grown by 40%, and he had the most visited player profile on NHL. com during the Olympic break. In his rookie season the Sharks finished at the bottom of the Western Conference but still set a franchise record for single-game ticket sales; this season, with Celebrini at 81 points (28 goals, 53 assists) in 55 games — the fourth most in the league — the club is on track to surpass that mark by nearly $3 million.
On-ice work and Olympic box scores
Celebrini has been the youngest NHL player in the Olympics and the youngest-ever on a Team Canada roster. Over five Olympic appearances he has totaled 10 points, skating alongside Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon, and Sidney Crosby. In Friday’s come-from-behind semifinal win he led Team Canada in ice time, playing nearly 26 minutes, fired a team-high eight shots on goal and assisted on McKinnon’s game-winner.
Warriors players and Bay Area voices urging people to watch
Gary Payton II urged the region to tune in, looking into the rolling camera after Friday’s practice and saying, "Go watch Mack, alright? Everybody, wake up in the Bay, and watch Mack. " Moses Moody, who rehabbed injuries under Rick Celebrini’s care and spent time with Macklin and his family, described the younger brothers and the player himself as carrying a "silent confidence. " KNBR host Derek Papa predicted Celebrini will change things in the Bay Area and likened him to Steph Curry in terms of local impact.
From Boston University to Hart conversations
Celebrini left the Bay Area for one season at Boston University as a 17-year-old and returned to make an immediate impact. After a stellar rookie season he has become one of the game’s top players in his second go-around and has been mentioned in Hart Trophy conversations while the Sharks sit at 27-24-4.
Kelley L Cox / Imagn Images
The next confirmed event is the Olympic gold medal match: Team Canada versus Team USA, scheduled for a 5 a. m. PST puck drop on Sunday in Milan. Warriors coaches, Sharks executives and Bay Area fans alike have said they will be watching.
