Macklin Celebrini
Macklin Celebrini, born in 2006 in Vancouver, emerged as a hockey prodigy, winning the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman at Boston University and becoming the youngest recipient in history before being selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft. In his rookie season, he quickly established himself as a dynamic two-way center, finishing as a Calder Trophy finalist with impressive point totals.
Now in his second NHL season at just 19 years old, Celebrini has exploded offensively, ranking among the league leaders with over 60 points midway through 2025-26 while serving as an alternate captain for the Sharks.
His stellar play earned him a spot on Team Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking him as one of the youngest players ever selected and cementing his status as a rising superstar in the sport.
Macklin Celebrini plays a highly dynamic and complete two-way center game, blending elite offensive creativity with responsible defensive play that makes him one of the most well-rounded young players in the NHL.
His exceptional skating, fluid, explosive, and with strong edge work, allows him to drive the rush effectively, create space off the cycle, and make difficult plays with the puck on the move, often finishing with a hard, accurate shot or precise passes to teammates.
Defensively, he's highly competitive, winning battles along the boards, supporting down low, and using his high hockey IQ to anticipate plays, backcheck relentlessly, and disrupt opponents.
Often compared stylistically to players like Sidney Crosby or Jonathan Toews for his all-around excellence and maturity,
Celebrini thrives in high-pressure situations, bringing energy and consistency at both ends of the ice.
Anthony Cirelli
Anthony Cirelli, born July 15, 1997, in Etobicoke, Ontario, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft after a standout junior career, including scoring the overtime winner in the 2015 Memorial Cup for the Erie Otters.
He made his NHL debut in 2018, quickly establishing himself as a reliable two-way center and contributing to the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021. Renowned for his elite defensive play, high hockey IQ, relentless work ethic, and penalty-killing prowess, Cirelli excels as one of the league's premier shutdown forwards while also providing consistent offensive production.
In the 2024-25 season, he set a career high with 60 points, and through approximately 35 games in the 2025-26 campaign as of early 2026, he has recorded around 22 points with a strong plus-minus rating.
His versatile, all-situations style allows him to thrive in top-six roles alongside stars like Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel.
Internationally, Cirelli has represented Canada at the World Championships and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, earning selection for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby, the legendary Pittsburgh Penguins captain and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was officially selected to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, marking his third appearance on the national team.
Announced as part of the full 25-man roster by Hockey Canada on December 31, 2025, Crosby had been one of the initial six players named earlier in the year alongside stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
At 38 years old, he remains a cornerstone of the squad, bringing unmatched leadership and experience from captaining Canada to gold in 2014 and scoring the iconic "Golden Goal" in overtime during the 2010 Vancouver Games. Crosby expressed his honor in a statement, noting his excitement to compete alongside a talented group for another gold medal as NHL players return to Olympic competition for the first time since 2014.
His inclusion underscores his enduring elite performance and status as one of Canada's greatest hockey icons, poised to chase a historic third Olympic gold.



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