John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORK

Macklin Celebrini breaks long-standing NCAA record with 32nd goal at age 17

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 3/28/24

Macklin Celebrini is the consensus No. 1 prospect available in the 2024 NHL Draft for a reason.

The Boston University freshman broke a 39-year-old record with a goal in the No. 2-ranked Terriers’ 6-3 win over the RIT Tigers in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey tournament.

Celebrini, 17, capped off a picture-perfect three-way passing play with Dylan Peterson and Nick Zabaneh to put the Terriers up 4-2 late in the second period of Thursday’s game.

The goal went into the books as the game-winner. It was also Celebrini’s team-leading 32nd goal of the year, moving him ahead of former Michigan State forward Craig Simpson for the most ever by a U18 player in a single NCAA season.

Celebrini picked up two points in the victory over RIT, improving to 32 goals and 61 points in 36 games with BU this season. Back in 1984-85, Simpson collected 31 goals and 84 points in 42 games with Michigan State; the Pittsburgh Penguins subsequently selected Simpson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1985 NHL Draft.

Outstanding work by Petey and Zabs leads to Mack's 32nd goal of the season!

: ESPNU
: https://t.co/m821oi6jTq (ESPN+) pic.twitter.com/fCL31jSCby
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 28, 2024

Celebrini’s season isn’t quite done yet, of course. With their win over RIT, Boston University advanced to face off against the winner of Thursday’s game between the University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

With a victory in their next game, the Terriers could clinch a spot in the Frozen Four, which will be held in Saint Paul, Minnesota. But they’ll be in tough if they have to go up against the Golden Gophers, who made it all the way to the National Championship game against Quinnipiac last year.

Before joining the Terriers for his draft season, Celebrini played for the highly-regarded Chicago Steel program in the USHL in 2022-23. He led that team in scoring as a 16-year-old, collecting 46 goals and 86 points in just 50 games.

As for Simpson, he went on to win the Stanley Cup twice during his playing career with the Edmonton Oilers. He racked up 247 goals and 497 points in 634 career games with the Penguins, Oilers, and Buffalo Sabres; after retiring, he became a leading hockey color commentator on CBC and Sportsnet broadcasts.

Celebrini won’t turn 18 until June 13, just over two weeks before he’s expected to be selected first overall at the 2024 NHL Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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