There isn’t much drama anticipated at the start of the NHL Draft on Friday.
Boston University center Macklin Celebrini has long been the projected No. 1 overall pick, and all indications are that the Sharks will fulfill that expectation by bringing the 18-year-old to the San Jose.
While Celebrini spent his brief college career in the northeast, his fit in the Bay Area is natural. Celebrini’s father has ties to another professional team in the area, just in an entirely different sport.
Here’s what you need to know about Celebrini’s father and a full look at his family tree.
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Who is Macklin Celebrini’s dad?
Celebrini’s father, Rick, is the director of sports medicine and performance for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. He previously held a similar role with the MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Sharks have endured some rough seasons this decade, but the Celebrini family was thrilled to see San Jose land the No. 1 pick because it keeps the 18-year-old right in the Bay Area near his father.
Rick, who is originally from British Columbia, Canada, works in basketball and has two sons who play hockey, but he actually got his start playing soccer. Rick played for Canada’s under-20 soccer team at the 1987 World Youth Championship, and he played professionally in Vancouver from 1992-1996.
Rick became interested in a career in sports medicine after suffering from ankle and foot injuries during his soccer career. He worked his way up to become the chief therapist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and was part of the Warriors’ run to an NBA championship in 2022. Naturally, Celebrini was on the floor with his dad in Boston after the Warriors captured the title.
San Jose isn’t exactly San Francisco’s closest neighbor — the two cities are about an hour apart — but that’s as close as Celebrini and his father could’ve hoped to be as one of the NHL’s brightest young talents starts his career with his family nearby.
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Macklin Celebrini family tree
Celebrini and his father aren’t the only members of the family involved in sports. Celebrini’s brother, Aiden, plays hockey as well and was selected by the Canucks in the sixth round of the 2023 draft.
Celebrini shared the ice with his brother at Boston University, with Aiden, a defenseman, posting six points across 36 games. Aiden has yet to sign with the Canucks, but the franchise owns his rights.
Celebrini also has a younger sister and younger brother; his sister plays tennis, while his mother was a soccer captain at the collegiate level.
The Celebrini family will reach the pinnacle Friday, with Macklin fully expected to become the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft.