Team Canada is at risk of being without one of its best players for the start of the world junior hockey championship after Macklin Celebrini received a game misconduct for a hit from behind in a pre-tournament exhibition contest against Switzerland on Friday.
The play came late in the second period when Celebrini hit Swiss forward Leo Brailliard from behind and directly into the boards. Celebrini, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL draft, received five minutes for boarding and a game misconduct.
Brailliard was forced to leave the game after the hit and did not return.
According to IIHF rules, “a Game Misconduct penalty does not incur automatic suspension, except for that game, but the Proper Authorities shall have the power to suspend the player from participating in further games.”
So while nothing is guaranteed, Celebrini could face a disciplinary hearing which has a chance to impact his availability for the start of the tournament on Tuesday in Sweden.
Celebrini had two assists in the game before he was assessed the misconduct.
A similar situation happened to the Canadians back in 2013, when Boone Jenner received a three-game suspension for a hit against Sweden in a pre-tournament exhibition game. Part of the reason for the severity of the suspension was that the Swedish player Jenner hit, Jesper Pettersson, missed the entire tournament with a broken wrist and dislocated shoulder.
Canada will open the tournament against Finland on Tuesday, before facing Latvia on Wednesday.
Whether Celebrini will be forced to miss either game remains to be seen.
Canada’s final pre-tournament game is Saturday against the United States.
