Celebrini Shares Excitement About Canada Olympic Selection, Talks “MVP” Chants

We’re probably not going to see Macklin Celebrini overwhelmed a lot anymore.

Celebrini is just 19, but he’s also, now indisputably, one of the best players in the world. He was just selected to the Canadian Olympic team, the first NHL teenager to be named to Team Canada since NHL’ers started going to Olympics in 1998.

But basking in the excitement after a hard-fought 4-3 San Jose Sharks’ shootout win over one of the best teams in the NHL, the Minnesota Wild, you could see a kid, literally shaking because he had just achieved one of his genuine lifelong dreams.

“I found out this morning and it’s just all excitement. Can’t really put it into words. I was just so excited,” Celebrini said. “It’s tough to re-focus into the game we had.”

But Celebrini did, scoring a goal and an assist, and also notching a shootout goal in the victory.

This echoed what Macklin Celebrini did to Canada GM Doug Armstrong, when the also-St. Louis Blues GM first told Celebrini that he was on the Olympic radar last Dec. 21, before the San Jose Sharks’ tilt at the Enterprise Center. The-then rookie admitted that gave him a boost, promptly dropping a goal and two assists on the Blues in a 4-3 win.

Celebrini shared his excitement over being selected to the Canadian Olympic team, who he called first with the news, his thoughts on getting to play with Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, the San Jose Sharks already at 20 wins this season, and SAP Center chanting “MVP! MVP!!” for him.

Macklin Celebrini, on finding out he made the team:

I found out this morning and it’s just all excitement. Can’t really put it into words. I was just so excited. It’s tough to refocus into the game we had. Especially with the early game, it was tough to give focus.I think it’s just excitement and a huge honor.

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Celebrini, on his phone call from Armstrong:

It was pretty simple. [He said] that I was on the team and that he’s excited for the group. Obviously the work starts now, building some of that chemistry. All looking towards Milan. It was a short phone call, and I was too excited to take in everything. It was just a short message.

Celebrini, on who he called first afterwards:

I called my parents. They did so much for me growing up, they’re the reason I’m here, and all their love and support.

Representing Canada at any level, that’s just a huge honor and I think you can tell by how I’m answering these questions, it’s just all surreal, and I’m just really excited.

Celebrini, on the San Jose Sharks:

Obviously, we have a lot of goals as a group and a lot of big aspirations. I keep bringing it up, but that was our 20th win tonight, and we had 20 all of last year. You can see the excitement in the crowd. There’s just a lot better of a vibe around our group and the way that we’re doing things right now. We’re winning games, stringing games together, playing good hockey, and just finding ways to win. I think that’s what it’s all about.

Celebrini, on if being told he was on the Olympic team’s radar last December against Armstrong gave him extra motivation against the Blues last season:

For sure. That was the dog days of the season, and to hear that for sure gave me a little bit of a boost.

Celebrini, on if he’s already started thinking about the Olympics:

You can’t not think about it, especially right now while it’s fresh. Just thinking about representing Canada in the Olympics. The message at the orientation camp was that we’re just one group and our whole country that’s representing us over there. You’ve got all kinds of sports and different athletes that have worked their whole life to kind of get to that level. I think that was a message that everyone’s there to represent Canada and do the best that they can do, so it means a little extra kind of being part of the group that represents the hockey side of it.

Celebrini, on training with Crosby and MacKinnon over the summer:

Those are two of the best players in the world. Probably one of the greatest ever and Nate’s on his way. Being around those guys at World Championships, and a little bit over the summer, you can’t not soak up all the little details, the stuff that they do, and also how they approach every day. They love doing what they do and I don’t think they’d be in the position that they are without doing that. Just watching them, being around them, they can’t not rub off on you.

Celebrini, on if his performance at the World Championships helped him make the Olympic roster:

I don’t think that’s a question for me. I’ve just tried to, for more reasons than one, play my best hockey. I worked this summer to give myself the best chance to not only help our team succeed and have a better year, which was a huge goal of mine; last year sucked, so that was a huge motivator, but also the added extra motivation of this Olympic Team.

Celebrini on if he’s talked to Joe Thornton about the Olympics:

I talked to him a little bit before I even knew I was in consideration for the team. He’s told me stories about when he was at the Olympics and how much fun he had, but he’s in Switzerland right now, so I haven’t talked to him yet.

Celebrini, on the San Jose Sharks’ reaction to the news:

I think it just shows how close our group was. Everyone was so happy for me, and I really wouldn’t be here without them. We have a special group this year. Our chemistry, my linemates, everyone I play with. It’s a team game, and you can’t have success without a team. It was really cool that they were also happy for me.

Celebrini, on the MVP chants tonight:

That’s something I’ve never had before, but it’s cool to see their excitement around our team, and to see the energy in the building, especially today. It was there. And I hope we can just keep winning, keep pushing, so that we get that more often.

Celebrini, on if the selection feels like the best Christmas gift ever:

Yeah, it’s the best Christmas I’ve ever had.

Celebrini, on if he’s been able to wrap it in his head that he’s going to the Olympics:

No, I think I just focused on the fact that I get to represent my country at the Olympics, how special that experience is, and what a huge honor it is to be selected for that team.

Celebrini, on if he’s got any Italian in his family history:

My grandpa was from over there.

Celebrini, on if he’s hoping to be on Crosby’s line:

I think everyone is. (laughs)