Macklin Celebrini was contemplating his next hockey stop.
The teenage star poised to join the U.S. college hockey ranks for the 2023-24 season had plenty of NCAA schools pining for his services back in June 2022.
The NBA Finals 鈥� more specifically, the teams involved 鈥� would provide a twist that eventually sealed the Vancouver product鈥檚 collegiate destination.
And help propel him onto Canada鈥檚 roster for the 2024 world junior hockey championship.
Celebrini鈥檚 dad, Rick, is director of sports medicine and performance for the Golden State Warriors, who were facing the Boston Celtics for the Larry O鈥橞rien Trophy that spring.
Boston University men鈥檚 hockey head coach Jay Pandolfo had already scouted the younger Celebrini during his two years dominating the stats page at Shattuck-St. Mary鈥檚, a prep school in Minnesota whose alumni include Sidney Crosby.
Pandolfo took a shot and reached out to Rick Celebrini with the Warriors in town for Games 3 and 4.
鈥淚f we could ever get a Macklin Celebrini, we were certainly going to try,鈥� Pandolfo recalled. 鈥淓nded up meeting with Rick. The relationship built from there.鈥�
When the Warriors-Celtics series made it back to Boston for Game 6 鈥� three days after Macklin鈥檚 16th birthday 鈥� the whole family was in tow.
鈥淲asn鈥檛 really thinking about Boston schools,鈥� said Macklin Celebrini, who has three siblings. 鈥淭hen we visited, met all the coaches, and it was pretty set from there.鈥�
The 17-year-old centre, whose parents played high-level soccer, has dominated college hockey this season as a freshman with 10 goals and 25 points in 15 games for the Terriers.
Celebrini is now looking to do the same with Canada.
鈥淵ou dream about putting on the jersey,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne of the most special things.鈥�
Celebrini is expected be a key offensive piece at the under-20 tournament, which opens Tuesday in Gothenburg, Sweden.
鈥淰ery special player,鈥� said centre Conor Geekie. 鈥淓xcited for things to come for him.鈥�
The presumptive top selection at June鈥檚 NHL draft, Celebrini was in the company of elite athletes from a young age. Before the family moved to California, Rick鈥檚 resume included time working with Olympians, the Vancouver Canucks, the NFL鈥檚 Seattle Seahawks and Major League Soccer鈥檚 Vancouver Whitecaps.
鈥淪ome of the best athletes in the world,鈥� Macklin said. 鈥淗e relays the messages 鈥� what to do and what not to do. How important the little details are and how can it change your whole process.鈥�
The younger Celebrini, who watched Golden State clinch the title in Game 6 some 19 months ago, remembers being in awe watching Warriors star Stephen Curry go about his business away from the cameras.
Pandolfo has no doubt that exposure helped the six-foot, 190-pound teenager excel in hockey.
鈥淕olden State is an incredible organization,鈥� said the former NHL forward, who also has Macklin鈥檚 older brother, Aiden, with the Terriers. 鈥淵ou see what it takes to win championships, how the guys handle themselves. Being around that is invaluable.鈥�
Macklin Celebrini said having his dad around this summer as he recovered from shoulder surgery was a huge benefit in preparation for the rigours of the NCAA 鈥� a league with players sometimes eight years his senior.
鈥淪omething in the back of my mind,鈥� said last season鈥檚 USHL player of the year with the Chicago Steel. 鈥淢aking sure I was ready for that physicality.鈥�
That preparation helped in college hockey and at Canada鈥檚 selection camp, where he was a star attraction 鈥� some teammates mentioned him in the same breath as Connor Bedard 鈥� from the first practice.
鈥淧uck finds him,鈥� said head coach Alan Letang. 鈥淐omes as advertised.鈥�
Pandolfo said a player with maturity beyond his 17 years arrived at school.
鈥淕reat offensive instincts, an attack mentality,鈥� said the ex-Boston Bruins assistant. 鈥淏ut he cares just as much about the defensive side. He doesn鈥檛 cheat the game.鈥�
Pandolfo added that for all the on-ice skill, Celebrini鈥檚 approach when no one鈥檚 watching has been equally impressive.
鈥淰ery good self-assessment skills,鈥� Pandolfo said. 鈥淯nderstands things he needs to improve on, and he wants to attack those things.鈥�
鈥淭he way he works off the ice, the details he has on the ice, the extra work he puts in all areas 鈥� that鈥檚 what gives you confidence. He knows.鈥�
The NCAA numbers jump off the page. They aren鈥檛 a shock to Celebrini.
鈥淛ust playing my game,鈥� he said. 鈥淕ot off to a good start. Gonna try to keep going.鈥�
Macklin Celebrini hasn鈥檛 lived in Canada in quite some time, with stops in California, Minnesota, Illinois and now Massachusetts 鈥� thanks to that NBA Finals pivot 鈥� all key parts in his hockey journey.
But make no mistake where the talented forward鈥檚 heart lies as his country looks for a third straight gold medal at the world juniors.
鈥淐anada鈥檚 home,鈥� Celebrini said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l always be home.鈥�
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