Captain Celebrini Scores First Two Goals At 2026 Worlds

San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini scored his first two goals as the captain of Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship on Saturday.

Celebrini was named captain with no question, but that changed when Sidney Crosby joined Team Canada just days before the start of the tournament.

Per The Athletic, Crosby didn’t seem too worried about the process of determining whether he would be the captain.

“Yeah, we’ll figure it out,” Crosby said. “That’s not something that we’ll need to spend much time on. I’m really happy to be here. (Celebrini has) had an unbelievable year. He looks amazing out here. I can see why he got selected. He’s got so many great leadership qualities.”

Multiple reports say the players of the Canadian roster were the ones who had the final say. Crosby joined the leadership group as an assistant, but Celebrini remained the captain. The San Jose Sharks centerman is the second-youngest player on the roster at 19 years old.

Canada defeated Team Sweden 5-3 in their opener, and Celebrini didn’t record a point. On Saturday, Celebrini led Canada to a 6-0 victory over Italy. The Sharks center scored twice, and both were beauties.

After taking an incredible feed from Philadelphia Flyers phenom Porter Martone, the San Jose Sharks star blasted a one-timer short side, giving Canada a 3-0 lead in the first period.

He wasn’t to be outdone, as Celebrini scored another world-class goal with a one-timed backhand shot from just above the crease. Crosby would start the play by winning a battle in the corner, and the puck found its way to Celebrini via Dylan Cozens.

Celebrini would also add an assist. Canada starts 2-0 in 2026, looking to avenge their surprise quarter-final defeat in the 2025 IIHF World Championship.