Celebrini in, Bedard misses cut as 4 B.C.-born NHL players make Team Canada

Macklin Celebrini speaks to reporters after a recent game. The West Vancouver native is one of four B.C.-born NHL players selected to join Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (San Jose Sharks)

Nineteen-year-old San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini of North Vancouver headlines the contingent of four British Columbia-born hockey players selected to play for Team Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“It’s just all excitement,” Celebrini said following San Jose’s shootout win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.

“Can’t really put it into words. I was just so excited it was tough to refocus into the game we had (against Minnesota), especially with the early game it was tough to gain focus, but it’s just excitement and a huge honour.”

He’s joined by West Vancouver’s Sam Reinhart, Abbotsford’s Devon Toews and Aldergrove’s Shea Theodore.

But the fact that 20-year-old Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard – alsofrom the North Shore – has been left out will be a major talking point in the buildup to the tournament.

Bedard started the current NHL season in prolific form before suffering an injury that will keep him out into the new year, although he is expected to be back before the Olympics.

“His name was right there until the last second,” Team Canada General Manager Doug Armstrong told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Bedard’s exclusion.

“Because we could have named him and then moved forward, but I think the reality is there are so many good players.”

Team Canada is hoping to replicate the team’s success from 2025, when it claimed the title at the Four Nations Face Off.

The men’s competition gets underway on Feb. 11, with Team Canada’s first game the following day against Switzerland.