San Jose Sharks young star Macklin Celebrini earned a spot on the Canadian squad for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
However, another young profile must stay at home as Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) was not among the 25 names that Canada’s GM Doug Armstrong presented on New Year’s Eve.
Bedard, who had 44 points (19+25) in 31 games, has been pulled with an injury that has seen him miss the last eight games. The 20-year-old forward suffered an upper-body injury in the closing stages of the Blackhawks’ meeting with St. Louis Bues on December 12. However, Armstrong says Bedard’s injury did not decide his potential Olympic participation.
– Not very much, to be honest. His name was there right up until the end, Armstrong says of Bedard. We could have taken him out and taken it after that. But the fact is that we have so many incredibly good players and we had to make tough decisions.
Celebrini has impressed greatly in his second season in the league. In 39 games, he has accounted for 60 points (21+39) and is currently in third place in the scoring league behind Connor McDavid (69 points) and Nathan MacKinnon (66).
The 19-year-old’s progress meant that he was early on in the discussions about the Olympic places, according to Armstrong.
– Early in December. He was one of 12 who had done enough for us to be comfortable presenting to the coach. He was one of the 12 that we all agreed on.
– He has played in the WC and he fit in very well socially with the top players in the sport and his game speaks for itself. He worked his way to a place. His CV may be shorter than others, but it is long for a player of his age.
