Macklin Celebrini's impressive play continues to be recognized.
The Canadian was voted the IIHF's Male Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, it was announced on Thursday.
Celebrini took home the award over American goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who finished second in voting, and Finnish forward Sebastian Aho. Canada's Connor McDavid and a trio of Americans in Jaccob Slavin, Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes also received votes among a panel of nearly 200 media members and IIHF representatives.
Celebrini received nearly 41 per cent of all votes.
The 20-year-old forward finished second in scoring during the Olympics with 10 points and led the men's tournament with five goals. His effort helped Canada to a silver medal as Celebrini was named to the Olympic all-star team as a forward. The B.C. native later captained Team Canada at the world championship earlier in the NHL off-season, when he finished second in scoring.
As for his time in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks sophomore finished with 115 points (fourth), which tied the third-most by a teenager ever, behind only Wayne Gretzky (137) and Sidney Crosby (120).
The IIHF Male Player of the Year award is handed out annually to a player who “best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season.”
Candidates are eligible after competing in at least one IIHF tournament as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country.
Past winners of the award include Switzerland's Sven Andrighetto (2025), Czechia's Roman Cervenka (2024) and Canada's Connor Bedard (2023).
