World Juniors: Macklin Celebrini's massive trouble Aiden says there are occasions 'he does issues that blow my thoughts'

Macklin leads Canada up towards the Swedes on the world juniors on Friday, and he’ll sq. off then towards Tom Willander, the Vancouver Canucks first-round choose who’s a teammate of each Celebrini brothers at Boston College

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Macklin Celebrini does issues on the ice that even shock his massive brother. 

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The 17-year-old ahead from North Vancouver, who’s the favorite to go No. 1 total in subsequent summer season’s NHL Draft, had one aim and 4 assists in Crew Canada’s 10-0 romp over Latvia Wednesday on the world junior championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

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Canada continues the match Friday, taking over the Swedes.

The world juniors have Celebrini on hiatus from his freshman season with the Boston College Terriers. His teammates there embody older sibling Aiden Celebrini, 19, a freshman defenceman who was the Vancouver Canucks’ sixth-round choose in final summer season’s draft.

“I’ve grown to count on that degree of excellence from him, however even at instances he does issues that blow my thoughts,” Aiden mentioned Thursday afternoon after Boston College observe. “That’s why he’s such an electrical participant, such a terrific participant. You assume you could have the e book on him and he creates one thing that even you don’t count on. 

“He’s exceeded my expectations at instances and I’m his greatest fan.” 

Canada's Macklin Celebrini scores on Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs during second-period preliminary round hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023.
Canada’s Macklin Celebrini scores on Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs throughout the second interval on Wednesday. Photograph by Christinne Muschi /The Canadian Press

Aiden says that the Terriers are watching the world junior video games in small teams proper now. Boston College has three gamers there. The matchup with the Swedes sees Macklin faceoff along with his Boston College teammate Tom Willander, 18, a freshman defenceman who was the Canucks’ first choose, No. 11 total, in final summer season’s draft.

Boston College sophomore defenceman Lane Hutson, 19, is with the Individuals on the match. 

“We have been simply speaking about having three guys on three of the highest groups. It will be actually cool to see one among them come house with the gold medal. Hopefully it’s Canada,” Aiden mentioned. 

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Boston College has 29 gamers listed on its roster. Willander is the lone Euro. The Celebrini brothers are a part of a five-Canadian contingent. The remainder of the gamers are Individuals.

The Individuals are cheering for Macklin and the Canadians by the early a part of the match, in line with Aiden. The 2 groups aren’t assembly within the preliminary spherical, however they might sq. off within the playoffs.

“It’s positively going to be a giant rivalry if it finally ends up being Canada and the U.S.,” Aiden mentioned of Terrier territory. 

Boston College continues its schedule Friday, visiting the Yale Lions. They then have an exhibition sport towards the visiting SFU Purple Leafs on Jan. 5. That’s the identical day because the world junior gold medal sport.

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Aiden was paired with Willander at Boston College early on within the 12 months, however the defence tandems have been rotating of late. The Terriers are 11-4-1 and ranked No. 2 within the NCAA in the latest nationwide ballot, trailing solely the Boston Faculty Eagles (13-3-1).

Boston University defenceman Aiden Celebrini (22) skates during the second period of an NCAA hockey game against North Dakota on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Boston.
Boston College defenceman Aiden Celebrini (22) skates throughout the second interval of an NCAA hockey sport towards North Dakota on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Boston. Photograph by Greg M. Cooper /AP

Aiden is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound proper shot D-man who spent final season with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior A league. He has one aim, 4 factors and a plus-four ranking by 14 video games with the Terriers. He’s been connecting frequently with Mike Komisarek, the previous NHL defenceman who’s a part of the Canucks participant improvement division. 

Komisarek, 41, performed 551 video games within the NHL. He’s working with Canucks prospects based mostly within the east. 

“I’ve come into a terrific defensive corps. It’s a very good improvement 12 months for me,” Aiden mentioned. “There’s no higher place wherever to develop as an elite hockey participant. The help we now have right here, the teaching we now have right here, is second to none. I’m attempting to develop my sport as a lot as I can over the 4 years and take that step into the massive leagues.

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“The Canucks have been nice. They’ve been tremendous fingers on. I’ve grown a terrific relationship with Mike Komisarek. He’s somebody that I’ve been capable of get recommendation from. He’s lived it. He’s one of many guys who can coach me and train me by expertise. He had a profession I may solely dream of emulating.”

Aiden says he and Willander discuss in regards to the Canucks often.

“We’ve grown a terrific friendship. We each dream about someday taking that step collectively,” Aiden mentioned.

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