Rick Celebrini and his family had a decision to make.

The well-known physiotherapist in the Vancouver area, with a resume that included working alongside Canadian Olympians, basketball icon Steve Nash, the NHL91裸聊视频檚 Canucks and Major League Soccer91裸聊视频檚 Whitecaps, was weighing two NBA job offers in 2018.

The Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.

There was plenty to consider 91裸聊视频� including hockey.

Macklin Celebrini, the second of Rick and wife Robyn91裸聊视频檚 four children, was a budding star. What would a warmer climate do for the youngster91裸聊视频檚 development?

91裸聊视频淲e visited San Antonio,91裸聊视频� Rick Celebrini recalled. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no real youth hockey.91裸聊视频�

He reached out to San Jose Sharks defenceman and former client Brent Burns to ask about the San Francisco Bay Area.

Burns spoke highly of the Jr. Sharks program. Celebrini got in touch to ensure Macklin could play up a year.

91裸聊视频淚t was important he be challenged,91裸聊视频� Rick said. 91裸聊视频淚t was a good group.91裸聊视频�

That made things easier. The Warriors were the choice. The family would relocate to California.

Some six years later, the Celebrinis will be in sizzling Las Vegas to watch Macklin live out his dream.

The star centre from Boston University is expected to be selected by San Jose, the team from what amounts to his second hometown, with the No. 1 pick Friday at the NHL draft inside the glitzy Sphere auditorium.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 nervous, I91裸聊视频檓 excited,91裸聊视频� Macklin Celebrini said. 91裸聊视频淚 have different emotions about it. I91裸聊视频檓 looking forward to it, though. People say, 91裸聊视频楨njoy it, only happens once in your life.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really going to.91裸聊视频�

Celebrini, who turned 18 this month, became the youngest-ever winner of the Hobey Baker Award when he was named the NCAA91裸聊视频檚 top player in 2023-24 after putting up 32 goals and 64 points in 38 contests.

91裸聊视频淭he physicality of the play, the maturity of the game,91裸聊视频� the six-foot, 190-pound forward said when asked why he chose U.S. college hockey over Canadian major junior. 91裸聊视频淧laying against those older guys 91裸聊视频� you can91裸聊视频檛 really get away with a lot.91裸聊视频�

Despite missing his friends following the move from North Vancouver, B.C., Celebrini said being around the Warriors helped push him.

Not every kid gets to watch NBA stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson go about their business on a daily basis.

91裸聊视频淛ust seeing the different things they do to prepare themselves, prepare their bodies,91裸聊视频� said Celebrini, who again hit the road to play at Shattuck-St. Mary91裸聊视频檚 School, Sidney Crosby91裸聊视频檚 Minnesota alma mater, with older brother Aiden after one season with the Jr. Sharks.

Dad said Macklin91裸聊视频檚 sports osmosis started even further back when he used to witness Nash 91裸聊视频� a future Hall of Famer 91裸聊视频� go through gruelling summer training sessions while he played off to the side.

91裸聊视频淎nd then my work with the Whitecaps and the Canucks,91裸聊视频� said Rick Celebrini, the Warriors91裸聊视频� vice-president of player health and performance. 91裸聊视频淪eeing how these guys prepare, how these guys train, the hard work that goes into it 91裸聊视频� not just when the lights are on and the TV cameras are on.91裸聊视频�

Macklin and Aiden, his teammate at Boston University and a Canucks draft pick, then really started to pay attention on their own hanging around Golden State91裸聊视频檚 practice facility.

91裸聊视频淭hat key time in an athlete91裸聊视频檚 development,91裸聊视频� Rick said. 91裸聊视频淎n incredible motivating and educational opportunity.91裸聊视频�

There was also plenty of education growing up in Greater Vancouver. Rick, who along with Robyn was a soccer player, said it didn91裸聊视频檛 take long to realize Macklin thought hockey differently.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 sure he picked it up watching TV,91裸聊视频� Rick said of one standout sequence. 91裸聊视频淏ut he91裸聊视频檚 looking at the score clock, he91裸聊视频檚 looking at bench, he91裸聊视频檚 directing his guys at the faceoff.

91裸聊视频淭hey were five years old. Like, that91裸聊视频檚 ridiculous.91裸聊视频�

And as the hockey got more serious, so did Macklin.

91裸聊视频淯ltracompetitive,91裸聊视频� Rick said. 91裸聊视频淎 kid is better than him, he91裸聊视频檚 going to try to keep raising his game and practice more. Whether it91裸聊视频檚 an individual or a team, he91裸聊视频檚 always looking to beat the next best.91裸聊视频�

That goes back to his days at the North Shore Winter Club 91裸聊视频� the family91裸聊视频檚 North Star for many years.

Connor Bedard, who went No. 1 to the Chicago Blackhawks a year ago, just so happened to be one of the kids kicking around the North Vancouver institution.

91裸聊视频淐onnor was a big influence on Mac,91裸聊视频� said the elder Celebrini. 91裸聊视频淎nd hopefully Mac was a good influence on Connor. They created a situation where they pushed each other and competed.91裸聊视频�

Rick Celebrini has watched plenty of athletes prepare and perform under a microscope.

Macklin91裸聊视频檚 run through a gauntlet that91裸聊视频檚 included the world junior hockey championship, the NCAA Frozen Four tournament and the NHL draft combine has impressed the family patriarch.

91裸聊视频淓xtremely proud of how he91裸聊视频檚 handled all the pressure,91裸聊视频� Rick said. 91裸聊视频淎nswered all the questions, conducted himself in a respectful, humble manner. It91裸聊视频檚 been a lot.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檒l be exhausted at the end of it all.91裸聊视频�

Then the training starts anew.

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