Shark’s McLean Celebration Gains Invaluable Experience at World Championships – Hockey Writer – San Jose Sharks
The 2025 IIHF World Championship ended with Canadian disappointment, but many of their players have gained positive results in the tournament, perhaps only the McLean celebrations of the San Jose Sharks. At just 18, he made his first appearance with Canada’s senior national team, scoring 6 and 9 in eight matches before losing to Denmark in the quarterfinals, where he scored 6 and 9 in eight matches. He played with some of the best Canadian players in recent NHL history, earning recognition in the process and gaining meaningful opportunities early in his career.
Celebrate with the Superstar Team
Canada’s lineup has so many top-notch centers that nature center Celebrini spends most of the matches. That’s not a problem, though – he had to play in a line centered on Sidney Crosby, while the two were doing well. They teamed up to achieve multiple goals and shared some interesting moments together.
As one of the youngest players in the NHL, Celeanini has had a rare opportunity to appreciate and want to shape his career in his career, such as Crosby and Nathan Mackinnon. Even with only a few games in one game, he would be happy to share the chances of ice and locker room with these stars.
“That’s everything,” Celebrini told reporters. “It’s just about being around them. Playing with them. Eating with them. Everything. I think playing with some of the best players in the world, learning from them and talking to them and watching how they get close to the game and doing things…this is something I don’t take for granted.”
Despite his age, Celebrini looks like he belongs to the top international championships. Apart from being offensive, he was confident, consistently making good decisions with the hockey and showing his competitiveness on both sides of the ice. He has made a positive contribution to the Canadian game and demonstrated why he is one of the best 18-year-olds in recent NHL history. Crosby and Mackinnon were both asked what advice they would give him, but they both appreciated it.
“I really don’t have much advice,” Crosby said. “He handled it very well. He was very mature. He loved the game. He loved the competition. He cared about every aspect of the game on both sides of the hockey. Experience, it was obvious that everything became a little easier.
“I don’t have any advice for him,” McKinnon added. “He’s a professional player. He’s a great kid. He’s a great kid. He’s a great kid. He’s standing among many older players. I think the first half is good and he’s going to be very likely to impress him in the Olympics. He’s amazing for him. He’s really good for the 18-year-old.
The rest of the hockey world caught the attention when Celeanini arrived in the NHL and proved himself to be an influential player. The recognition he gained from some of the best players in the league can both further affirm his position as a player to watch, and it is also an incredible opportunity to develop his own game.
Celebrini gains a big game experience
Although Crosby and Mackinnon were his most important gains, he also took another benefit from the event. The game gave him another chance to play in a high-stakes game, which should prepare for his first appearance for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Related: Shark’s Bad Recordings Doesn’t Tell the Full Story of Their Season
Although Celebrini is very active in his rookie season at the individual level, from a points standpoint perspective, he obviously didn’t play a lot of meaningful games, especially later in the season. He has played in junior international games before, but through the World Championships, he has played in the playoff-like atmosphere with other NHL players for the first time. Any experience he has now should prepare him for the Sharks playoffs. Even if it ends with a heartbreak, suffering hard losses can further develop his mental resilience, which is even more important at a young age.
Celeanini isn’t the only shark who can use this game as a way to prepare for the playoffs. Most notably, Will Smith and head coach Ryan Warsofsky should learn a lot of key parts of the U.S. team. But Celebrini’s drama for Canada, coupled with the compliments he received from multiple Stanley Cup champions, highlights how important he would be if the Shark wanted to win his own title.
Shark Hope Celebration Performance Translation
In the World Championship performance, he has the ability to hold his own results in important matches against top players, most of whom are much older than him. The Sharks hope to use it as soon as possible by returning to the playoffs with the team’s core members. This game proves what he can do when he is surrounded by other great players. San Jose took many positive steps to build the team around, but they still have a lot of work to do, which started in the offseason. If both Celebrini and Sharks continue on their current trajectory, he should be able to play in the world championship performance and apply it to the playoffs in San Jose within a few seasons.
