Macklin Celebrini Did The Unthinkable Again.

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Just ten days after Connor Bedard took the “C” in Chicago, another North Vancouver prodigy made NHL history of his own. On September 25, the San Jose Sharks officially named 20-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini the 11th captain in franchise history.

For hockey fans across Metro Vancouver, the 2023 and 2024 NHL drafts felt like deja vu. Two kids born in the same North Shore hometown, who learned to skate on the same local ice rinks, being selected first overall in back-to-back drafts, and now both wearing the letter “C” on their chests before either has even reached his 22nd birthday.

Celebrini’s path to the captaincy and superstardom mirrors the rise of his hometown buddy Bedard. After becoming the youngest player ever to win the Hobey Baker Award at Boston University in March of 2024, Celebrini was selected first overall by San Jose in June later that year. He quickly proved his collegiate dominance was no fluke. Over his first two NHL seasons, he posted point totals that even Connor McDavid didn’t reach at the same age, 178 points in 152 games, capped by a 45-goal, 115-point breakout last season that placed him fourth in league scoring and third in Ted Lindsay Award voting.

On the ice, Celebrini’s work ethic often resembles a fourth liner grinding to stay in the lineup rather than the Canadian IIHF Men’s Hockey Player of the Year. Unlike many young star forwards, his defensive commitment equals the relentless energy he pours into the offensive zone.

Former San Jose captain Joe Thornton presented Celebrini with his new sweater during a team meeting. As Thornton handed him the jersey, the room felt the physical passing of the torch from one franchise icon to the next.

 

Reflecting on taking on the ultimate leadership role, Celebrini remained grounded:

“To wear the ‘C’ for an organization with this kind of history, following guys like Jumbo and Patrick Marleau, it’s an incredible honor,” Celebrini said. “Growing up in North Van, you dream about playing in the NHL, but leading a group like this is something truly special. My family and I couldn’t be prouder.”

By taking the captaincy at 20 years and 104 days old, Celebrini surpassed Bedard and Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman to become the youngest B.C. born team captain in NHL history. He also holds the title of the youngest captain ever to lead the Sharks.

What makes Celebrini special is how his elite, generational skill on the ice is fully matched off the ice by a natural leadership ability that earns immediate respect from veterans and rookies off the ice. As he guides San Jose through this rebuild, it’s North Vancouver’s hockey pipeline that continues to stand as the new NHL star factory.