Macklin Celebrini’s First Media Availability As A San Jose Shark

Macklin Celebrini’s First Media Availability As A San Jose Shark

so M we uh talk T night two days ago over City National just build up the anticipation you’re looking forward to it the sphere everything all building up was it everything you thought it was going to be take us through the moment uh I didn’t really know what to expect at first um but I I I was able to see the sphere and uh I mean it’s just it was amazing when I saw it and it’s even better when it’s all set up and um for for this event but no it’s a really cool experience you sort of anticipate knowing you’re going to be the number one pick but it’s still gotta you know when you hear your name it’s real it’s official yeah no for sure once it’s official it’s it’s a pretty amazing feeling I mean it’s it’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid so um yeah I mean I’m just I’m I’m so excited to join this organization what’s the entire process been like Fe back just going back to the last summer I guess when things really started to to pick up yeah I mean it’s been a long process ever since uh last summer and um there’s been a lot going on and um but I mean I’ve enjoyed it I’ve really enjoyed um spending time with my friends and family going through this with them and um I mean it it was a once a lifetime opportunity so um I really enjoyed it have jumbo up there oh it’s amazing he’s a he’s a legend of the game and a sharks Legend um he he’s just an amazing player in person it was pretty special to have him up there announce it for a team that’s rebuilding obviously first overall they didn’t do so great last season and you’re seen as this generational Prospect is that we on you mentally how do you go into a team knowing that hey now the first guy to kind of turn the corner here yeah for sure I mean it’s it’s an exciting opportunity because you kind of get to build a group uh they have a young core that’s that’s very special and um I mean I feel like they’re they’re moving in the directions and they’re building the right way so um I’m super excited to join the the organization and um I can’t wait to see where we go what was that feeling when they announced their name that finally it’s official after all this oh it was it was an amazing feeling like I said one it was a dream of mine ever since I was a kid just just to get selected in the NHL was was a huge dream of mine and um to go to organization like that I mean the only way I can ED to describe as special you timeline for when you will decide or play whether you’re going to go back to college or turn no uh no I don’t how did uh your relationship with Conor Mard help year yeah he’s he’s obviously went through this last year and uh maybe had a little bit more attention on him but um no I he he reached out at the start of the Year said if I need anything he was there to help and um I mean not too many questions but but he you grew up in Van what was it like to to move to California when you were 14 or whatever was it or 12 I guess and just experience that a different hockey Market yeah it was completely different it’s completely different from where I grew up and um the whole experience was was uh it was unique and um it kind of works now that I kind of got a lay of the land and got to uh experience what what life in California is like so there’s not that much transition but um no it was I I enjoyed my time playing for the junior sharks for that one year and um I’m excited to play for the actual sharks there’s a lot of NCA players coming up Colin graph Will Smith just to see that grow with an obviously Miker who beu guy himself what does it mean to see the NCAA Prospect growing inside the Sharks oration it’s very cool um I mean the the reason I show is the NCAA is because I believe it’s it’s a league that that best prepares you for the NHL um I feel like it’s it’s an amazing to have those those special players there and uh to be able to grow with them nice parents how much have they been to you just this whole process they’ve meant everything um them and my siblings uh Charlie RJ and Aiden um I really wouldn’t be here without them um we have a special family we’re all really tight so um having them there by my side um going through all this again it just it was really special and I mean I’ll cherish this moment for the rest of my life your dad told me a story the other day that your first skating lesson you insisted on putting on all all your hockey gear I mean how how long have you DED about about this moment I don’t remember that but um no I mean ever since I was a kid watching Vancouver Knox on on TV um I’ve been just it’s more of a dream than than thinking it was going to be a reality and um watching my favorite players play every night um dreaming hoping one day um to play in the league um I mean it just it’s just meant a lot to me from Wednesday working with the clinic with the kids right but yesterday and other media obligations you may have had well from when you woke up this morning so can you take us through today just kind of process of getting ready with your family the nerves settling them down how how’ today go leading up to coming here it was it was uh it was actually it was a little calm but a little hectic uh we’re all excited we all looking forward to it um there’s a lot of even now that it was the day of it was there’s still some some buildup and anticipation that that was yet to be seen but um no I mean we tried to enjoy it as much as possible you talk to it this being a surreal experience you’re kind of in a surreal place what have you made up the sphere all day or week whatever oh it’s amazing it’s uh I mean it’s truly one of a kind uh the technology and all all that they have Fe that I I was shown on um yesterday I think and uh it was I mean just seeing seeing how this place runs and um the capabilities that it has it was it was super cool I can only imagine I I can’t wait the young court group that prob could have potential to bring San Jose the first down cup when the th able to do it yeah um it’s it’s very cool um I feel like there’s a lot of trust in the management and the coaching staff right now um the way that they’re building and um the moves that they’re making I feel like like like any organization they’re they’re just trying to build the best team possible to get to that point and um I mean I don’t have faith in anyone else Steph Curry had high praise for you Draymond Green had high praise for you what’s it like to get that sort of support from two players who did so much for their respective sport it means a lot um those guys are very respected in in the NBA and what they’ve accomplished um in the Bay Area for for their Sport and um I mean it means a lot they’re uh they’re well respected and um yeah I mean it’s just really cool are you going to wear a number 71 I think so yeah I know it’s early you just got drafted but have you thought about what it’s going to be like to play in Rogers Arena as someone who was at the playoffs and watch the Canucks play yeah yeah no I mean when my dad worked for the kns grown up skating there it it was a cool experience so looking forward to playing there one day two or three main points you’ll have to weigh now turn sorry what are the two or three main points you you’ll have to weigh here deciding whether to turn pro or go back to I feel like it’s just more of a conversation of whether I’m ready and um yeah I mean just just talking to the to the organization seeing what they’re they’re feeling and thinking and uh also talking to uh my family and um the coaches at bu just to really get an understanding of uh both opportunities and make from there you playville Smith in the USL and then gu him in college thec are you excited to wear the same Jersey as on game night yeah he’s he’s a pain to um play again so I’m really excited to play such a competitor part of you just say I’m ready for the next level I want to challenge myself in that respect right yeah I mean that’s something that that’ll weigh into the decision for sure how important do you think it is for the move PR of the rebuild for S to have yourself and Smith as like the onew punch of the future whenever it is you get to play together that’s been a recipe that’s worked in the past for past championship teams yeah like I said he’s a special player and uh from what I I’ve got to know him a little bit um he’s a special person as well so um to be able to play with him kindly and not have to go against them it’ll be really cool and um obviously he’s someone that um I’ll be with for a long time you remember about San Jose when you were here 1 years old that one year you have any places spots that you H out with h out out back then uh like in Sant yeah um yeah I uh the the year that I lived there we uh were renting a house down in Willow Glenn so um they have a nice little downtown there with a lot of good restaurants so do you have any for warning that Joe would be the guy calling your name nope I had no idea I had no idea no what’ you think when you saw him go up for him oh it was amazing I mean like I said countless times he’s he’s a legend and um and a great person so to have him announce the pick um it is pretty cool ton of sharks fans here would it mean you just hear the cheers it felt really good it felt really good that they’re excited um about this and uh that they’re excited for this opportunity so um hopefully we can make them cheer a lot TR party at home it’s sold out at sap Center just extension of that just how good do it feel that there’s a lot of excitement forting it’s it means a lot um you uh you dream about playing in the NHL and um helping your team win and um that’s what I’m hoping I can bring to the Sharks and um to have that support is is really important so um to hear that it just makes you smile back jumping off of that you talked about it the core that’s being built and put together what does it mean to you when you’re being view as being at the heart of them I mean it’s an honor um yeah I mean I feel like that’s all I can say it’s an honor and a privilege and um it’s something I don’t take lightly so um like I said I’m gonna do everything I can to help our team win um in whatever position I’m put in so um I think that’s just kind of a mindset when people have used last one here when people have used the the names cdy Crosby Jonathan Tes in describing what you and maybe what you could possibly be what what how does that register with you I mean cdy Crosby was a childood hero of mine um watching him on TV uh growing up as a Canadian kid he uh he’s someone I looked up to um as a player and a person so I mean and he’s one of the best of all time so to be compared to him is I think it’s a little bit of a stretch but um no it’s definitely an honor it’s very cool [Music]

Mackin Celebrini meets with the media after being picked first overall in the National Hockey League’s Draft.

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