TORONTO — The feels-like temperature in sticky Toronto is pushing beyond 40 degrees C as Macklin Celebrini sweats through a series of soccer drills on a pad of Astroturf tucked down an Ossington alleyway in the west end of Toronto.
The San Jose Sharks superstar is much like his grey T-shirt: he’s soaking it all in.
Celebrini, 20, is laughing and joking as he heads and boots pinpoint goals past some lucky kid who can say he kicked the ball around with an Olympic silver medallist and Ted Lindsay finalist on the day Portugal defeated Croatia down the street in a World Cup thriller.
The son of Rick Celebrini — a former Vancouver 86ers pro and a Team Canada rep at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship — comes by his soccer love honestly. The North Vancouver, B.C., native has already attended one game at his host city and will be in attendance for Tuesday’s Round of 16 tilt at BC Place.
In the meantime, the hockey phenom is having fun playing foosball and hosting a mini soccer camp for 40 young fans as part of an interactive Airbnb experience.
We caught up with Celebrini for a few minutes on Tuesday, in the shade, to discuss his experience captaining Sidney Crosby at the world championships, the Sharks’ newly overhauled roster and that other sport he adores.
SPORTSNET.CA: What’s the best thing you did so far this summer?
CELEBRINI: Probably go to the Canada–Switzerland soccer game. It was really cool to see Canada. They lost (2-1 in the Group Stage), but just the success they’re having throughout the tournament and the mark that they’re making on FIFA is pretty cool.
How would you describe your love for soccer as a kid?
Growing up, it was hockey and soccer all the way. I split my time playing both sports, and soccer was a big passion of mine. Just watching World Cups and going to Whitecaps games and hanging around that stadium. Obviously, I ended up playing hockey. I kinda loved hockey more, and it was more my passion. But soccer has always been a part of my life.
Could you have turned pro if you dedicated as much time to soccer as you did to hockey?
[Smiles]. You never know. You never know.
OK, tell me about the world championships. You’re wearing the C in a dressing room that features Sidney Crosby. What was that experience like? How did that conversation go?
It was really cool of Sid and Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares, them stepping in and wanting me to take the captaincy. It was something I pushed back on. I wanted Sid to take it. There’s not a team in hockey that Sid shouldn’t be captain for when he’s playing on the team. And I expressed that to them. But at the end of the day, it was really cool. I really appreciate them wanting me to take it and wanting me to have that experience.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from Sid?
Everyone talks about the kind of human being he is and how down-to-earth he is. It’s crazy to say — because he’s a guy I’ve looked up to my whole life and aspired to be like — but I think he’s just a normal guy. Like, just hanging around the locker room, he’s easy to be around. I talk to him about anything. That’s a really cool thing, to separate the legend he is from how normal a person he is and how easy he is to talk to.
So, your Sharks draft Ivar Stenberg, then sign Mason Marchment and Jacob Trouba, and go get Darnell Nurse. What’s the most exciting thing for you about the off-season San Jose is having?
All those additions will help us, and our draft was great. You hear that from everyone. We got some great additions on D, and a lot of great young players that maybe won’t come in next year, but down the road will help us big time. In free agency, those additions will help us this year. I was texting a couple of guys on our team: it’s weird, just because it’s my first couple years in the NHL, and I’m not really used to how much turnover there is on a team. So, it’s really tough to lose guys like (William) Eklund and (Ryan) Reaves and (Vincent) Desharnais and (Mario) Ferraro, all those guys that left. Because you build that relationship and that friendship with them, and it’s tough to see them go. It’s crazy that we’re gonna have a completely different team next year. But it’s also exciting, just the steps that we’re taking and how we’re all looking forward to the future.
Nurse, Trouba and Marchment all bring some snarl. For your core, how important is that element?
That’ll be awesome for us. Especially with some of the younger guys we have, and all the skill we have, that will offset a lot. I mean, you saw it last year: We all have each other’s backs. But to have some players that have a little bit more edge and are a little bit of a bigger frame definitely helps make sure that our guys know that guys have their backs.
I understand Toronto’s Gavin McKenna is going to train alongside yourself and Connor Bedard this summer.
That’s the plan. Still don’t know really when, but I think he’s going to be coming down at some point down to Vancouver. He’s really good friends with my agent (Pat Brisson, who represents both stars). One of my good friends, Ryder Ritchie, and (his dad) Byron Ritchie, he spends a lot of time with them, so he’ll be coming down with them.
You faced your new teammate Ivar Stenberg at worlds. What stands out?
Just the way he skates and all the skills he possesses. Just how calm and good he is with the puck. He’s also a competitor, which I love. I think it’s going to be great for us, just the way he drives the game and wants to win.
You’re now eligible to extend. Any progress with the contract?
[Smiles]. No, not yet. Not yet.
Do you foresee a long future there?
Yeah, yeah. Looking at what we have and what we’re building, I think we should all be excited for things to come.