From Father to Fan: Rick Celebrini Watches Son Macklin Shine on Olympic Stage
MILAN - Rick Celebrini has spent a lifetime in elite sports, but nothing quite prepared him for this. Not the years working with MVPs like Steph Curry.
Not the championships. Not even his own days as a professional athlete.
Because now, he’s not the trainer or the player. He’s a dad - watching his 19-year-old son, Macklin, skate alongside hockey royalty in the red and white of Team Canada.
The moment it all hit? A phone call.
Macklin was sitting at the San Francisco airport, about to board a flight to New York, where Team Canada’s charter was waiting to take them to the Winter Olympics in Italy. He had a question for his dad - one that was equal parts excitement and uncertainty.
“They wouldn’t bring me all that way… not to play me, right?”
Rick couldn’t help but smile. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to play,” he told his son.
And he was right. Not only did Macklin play - he was slotted on a line with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
That’s No. 97 and No. 29.
Two of the most explosive, dynamic players in the world. And now, No. 71 - the kid from Burnaby - was joining them.
Welcome to the Big Time
Macklin didn’t just make the team. He made an impact.
In Canada’s opening game, he scored the first goal - assisted by MacKinnon - becoming the youngest Canadian NHL player to ever score in the Olympics, surpassing Jonathan Toews. He added another tally in a dominant 5-1 win over Switzerland and now sits tied for the tournament lead in goals with four through three games.
This isn’t ceremonial. This isn’t a “get-him-some-experience” situation. Macklin Celebrini is here to play - and to produce.
What makes it all the more surreal is that just a few months ago, even his father didn’t think this was in the cards. Rick, who serves as the Golden State Warriors’ VP of player health and performance, has seen greatness up close.
He’s trained with Steve Nash. He’s helped Steph Curry through injuries.
He understands what elite looks like - and what it takes to get there.
But this? This is different.
“The first game, I was legit nervous,” Rick admitted. “I’ve been more nervous than I’ve been in a long time watching any of the kids’ sports games.”
And Macklin? He felt it too.
But once that first goal went in, the nerves eased. Not just for him, but for the whole team.
That tip-in against the Czech Republic wasn’t just a highlight - it was a tone-setter.
Why Macklin Fits
What makes Macklin such a seamless fit alongside McDavid and MacKinnon isn’t just his raw talent - though there’s plenty of that. It’s his hockey IQ. He processes the game at a pace that allows him to not just keep up with two of the fastest minds in the sport, but to contribute meaningfully.
He doesn’t need the puck to make an impact. He reads lanes, wins tight battles, and keeps the play moving with smart, connective passes.
And when he does get the puck? His shot is more than capable of finishing plays.
Add in a relentless motor and a willingness to do the little things, and you’ve got a player who complements a line built on speed, precision, and explosiveness.
This is a kid who went No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He finished third in Calder Trophy voting.
He opened his second NHL season with 23 points in 15 games. And now, he’s not just on the Olympic team - he’s helping drive it.
A Rocket Ride to Milan
Macklin’s journey to Milan accelerated on New Year’s Eve, when he was officially named to Canada’s roster. He became the youngest NHL player ever selected for the Olympics. And while his invitation to orientation camp hinted at his potential, few expected he’d make the final cut - let alone play a significant role.
Even he wasn’t sure. That’s why he called his dad from the airport.
But Canada isn’t in the business of handing out jerseys for sentimental reasons. They brought Macklin because he earned it.
Because his game is already mature beyond his years. Because he’s ready - physically, mentally, emotionally - to take on the moment.
And now, he’s doing exactly that.
A Family Affair
For Rick Celebrini, this is all hitting a little differently. A proud Canadian, a former pro athlete, a father - he’s watching his son not just live a dream, but thrive in it.
“It is crazy,” Rick said. “Not only is he playing, but he’s contributing in a meaningful way and having fun out there. And by extension, so are we.”
This isn’t the story of a prodigy groomed from birth to be a hockey star. Rick didn’t set out to build an Olympian. He set out to raise a good kid, to support his passion, to be there for the journey.
That journey just so happens to now include goals on Olympic ice, on a line with two of the greatest players of a generation, with a nation watching and dreaming of gold.
And wouldn’t that be something.