Nineteen-year-old Macklin Celebrini has been selected to join the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team, which will feature NHL players such as Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon as they make their return to the Winter Games after a more than 10-year absence. The team’s roster of 25 players was announced a month and a half before their Olympic campaign commences on Feb. 12 against the Czech Republic in Milan, Italy.
Only two members from the 2014 gold-medal winning squad will return for the Canadian team: captain Crosby and defenseman Drew Doughty, who also clinched gold in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where Crosby scored the memorable Golden Goal in overtime. The lineup boasts a collective total of 22 Stanley Cups and includes 19 players who contributed to Canada’s thrilling overtime victory against the Americans at the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year, offering a glimpse of the elite level of competition absent in men’s Olympic hockey for an extended period.
General manager of the team, Doug Armstrong, expressed confidence in the skill and depth of the roster, emphasizing their readiness to contend for a gold medal in Italy. The rigorous selection process culminated in the finalization of the team, reflecting the dedication and effort of the management group. The players are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to represent their country and are committed to making Canadians proud by aiming to secure a gold medal.
Among the forwards selected, Celebrini, along with other notable names like Nick Suzuki, Bo Horvat, and Tom Wilson, will join the Olympic roster despite not participating in the 4 Nations tournament. Celebrini, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft by the San Jose Sharks, has proved himself as a top performer in the NHL, currently ranking third in the league’s points race behind McDavid and MacKinnon.
All eight defensemen who competed in the 4 Nations tournament will return for the Olympics, including Makar, Doughty, and Josh Morrissey from the Winnipeg Jets. The goaltending lineup will feature Jordan Binnington, who demonstrated strong performances during the 4 Nations event, despite facing challenges in the NHL season with the St. Louis Blues.
The notable exclusions from the roster include young talents like Connor Bedard and Sam Bennett, who have made significant impacts in their respective teams. The management emphasized the importance of covering all aspects of the game to ensure the team’s readiness for various in-game situations.
The final selection process involved a dedicated management group led by Armstrong, with input from various key figures in the hockey community. The team is set to compete in Group A with the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and France, with the gold-medal game scheduled for Feb. 22, promising an exciting and competitive Olympic campaign for Team Canada.