Celebrini becomes youngest Canadian NHLer to score goal at Olympics
The Canadian men’s hockey team opened their tournament at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics against Czechia on Thursday. As expected, the two teams got off to an exciting, fast-paced start, exchanging scoring chances. But as the first period ran into its final minute, the game had yet to see its first goal. Then, with under 10 seconds in the period, Canada’s Connor McDavid tracked down the puck in the offensive zone and moved it to an open wing. Defenseman Cale Makar skated into a slapshot, and youngster Macklin Celebrini deflected the shot past Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal for the opening Canadian goal of the game and the tournament.
🚨 GOAL! / BUT! Macklin Celebrini! 🇨🇦 1-0 🇨🇿 #MilanoCortina2026 | @BCHockey_Source | @SanJoseSharks
Celebrini not only became Canada’s first goal scorer of the 2026 Olympic Games, but also became the youngest Canadian player to score for at the Olympics in the NHL era. The 19-year-old phenomenon, who plays for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL, made it almost impossible for general manager Doug Armstrong and the Hockey Canada brass to keep him off the Olympic team despite his relative lack of experience. With 28 goals and 53 assists for 81 points in just 55 games, Celebrini sits fourth in the NHL in scoring. With his early goal, Celebrini has already rewarded Canada for thier decision to select him for the team and put him on the top line with McDavid.
Prior to Celebrini’s goal on Thursday, the youngest Canadian NHLer to score a goal at the Olympics was current Winnipeg Jet and former Chicago Blackhawk Jonathan Toews, who at 21 years of age potted the opening goal in the gold-medal game against the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
If Canada can get to gold-medal game again at these Olympics, and Celebrini can score en route to a gold medal, it would make for legendary tournament for the teenager from Vancouver.