Olympic Update: Sharks’ Celebrini and Regenda Stay Undefeated as Group Stage Heats Up
Three days into the Olympic men’s hockey tournament, two San Jose Sharks are making their mark on the international stage - and doing it in impressive fashion. Macklin Celebrini is shining with Team Canada in Group A, while Pavol Regenda is helping Slovakia stay perfect in Group B. Both players are undefeated, and both are playing key roles in their teams’ early success.
Macklin Celebrini’s Star Continues to Rise
Macklin Celebrini isn’t just holding his own on hockey’s biggest stage - he’s thriving. The 18-year-old phenom added a goal and an assist in Canada’s 5-1 win over Switzerland, and it wasn’t just the numbers that stood out. It was how he did it.
Midway through the game, Canada’s coaching staff loaded up a super line featuring Celebrini alongside Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon - three of the NHL’s top four scorers all on the same shift. The result? Instant chemistry, and a nightmare for the Swiss defense.
The trio wasted no time. In the second period, MacKinnon found Celebrini with a crisp feed, and the rookie didn’t hesitate - one-timer, back of the net, 3-1 Canada.
But Celebrini wasn’t done. After serving a tripping penalty, he came flying out of the box and immediately went to work on the forecheck.
He hounded Switzerland’s Dean Kukan in the corner, stripped the puck, and fed McDavid, who set up MacKinnon for the dagger. It was a sequence that showcased Celebrini’s motor, instincts, and willingness to do the gritty work - even when skating alongside two of the most gifted players in the world.
“He’s a dog on a bone, that kid,” McDavid said after the game. “He wins a puck battle, makes a good play into the middle.”
Celebrini logged 15:20 of ice time, fired four shots on goal, and even rang one off the post on a power play. His performance was a reminder that while he may be the youngest player on the ice, he’s already playing like he belongs.
Canada has now clinched the top spot in Group A with one game still to play - a Feb. 15 matchup against France. That means they’ll skip the Qualification Playoff round and head straight to the Quarterfinals on Feb. 18, rested and ready.
Philipp Kurashev and Switzerland Face Uphill Battle
While Canada rolled, Switzerland ran into a buzzsaw. Philipp Kurashev played 15:09 in the loss and was on the ice for Switzerland’s lone goal - a power play tally by Pius Suter that briefly cut the deficit to 2-1 in the first period.
Switzerland now sits at 1-1-0 and faces a tough test in their final Group A game against Czechia, who also sit at 1-1-0 after a 6-3 win over France. To make matters worse, the Swiss will be without top forward Kevin Fiala for the rest of the tournament. The Los Angeles Kings star left the game after a collision with Canada’s Tom Wilson and has been ruled out due to injury.
Pavol Regenda Helps Slovakia Stay Perfect
Over in Group B, Pavol Regenda and Slovakia are quietly putting together a strong tournament of their own. Slovakia edged host Italy 3-2 to move to 2-0-0, and Regenda played a big part in the win.
The 6-foot-4 winger notched the primary assist on Adam Ruzicka’s game-winning goal in the third period, using his size and vision to create space and find his teammate in a dangerous spot. Regenda finished second among Slovak forwards in ice time with 17:50, trailing only Juraj Slafkovsky.
Slovakia now turns its attention to a crucial Group B finale against Sweden on Saturday. A win would lock up the group and earn them a direct path to the Quarterfinals - no small feat in a group that includes traditional powers like Sweden and Finland.
Alex Wennberg and Sweden Stumble
Speaking of Sweden, they’ve made life harder for themselves. After dropping their opener to Slovakia, they fell again - this time to bitter rivals Finland, 4-1.
Sharks forward Alex Wennberg centered Sweden’s fourth line, logging 11:56 of ice time and winning seven of 13 faceoffs. He also contributed on the penalty kill and came close to scoring, nearly jamming in a loose puck at the net front.
Sweden now sits at 1-1-0 and will need a strong showing against Slovakia to regain control of their Olympic path.
What’s Next
Group play wraps up soon, and the stakes are rising fast. Here’s a quick look at key matchups coming up on Saturday:
- Slovakia vs. Sweden (3:10 AM PT): Group B supremacy on the line.
- Finland vs. Italy (7:40 AM PT): Finland looks to stay alive after early stumble.
- Germany vs. Latvia (3:10 AM PT): Germany aiming to stay unbeaten in Group C.
- USA vs. Denmark (12:10 PM PT): The Americans look to keep rolling.
For now, the spotlight belongs to the Sharks’ Olympic duo. Celebrini is showing why he’s one of the most exciting young players in the game, and Regenda is proving he can deliver in big moments. If they keep this up, don’t be surprised to see both of them playing deep into the medal rounds.