The projected first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft and Team Canada forward Macklin Celebrini will not receive any further supplementary discipline after receiving a boarding call during Friday’s pre-tournament matchup against Switzerland.
Celebrini was ejected and handed a game misconduct alongside a five-minute major after checking Swiss forward Leo Braillard into the boards from behind during the second period of the World Junior Championship pre-tournament game.
Before the hit, Celebrini recorded two assists to contribute to Canada’s 6-3 win over the Swiss.
Braillard left the game and did not return following the hit. Swiss head coach Marcel Jenni did not confirm whether the forward would return in time for the team’s December 27th opening match against Slovakia.
“I heard he’s pretty ok,” Jenni said. “It’s probably something with the neck. I don’t know. We have to see.”
Despite the International Ice Hockey Federation’s reputation of cracking down on significant calls that involve checking from behind, there was a possibility that Celebrini would be suspended just before the start of the tournament. However, on Saturday, the IIHF Disciplinary Panel announced that the forward didn’t need to receive any further disciplinary action after reviewing the incident ahead of Canada’s third pre-tournament game on Saturday.
The decision ruled in favour of team Canada on Saturday when they set to face off against their United States rivals. Celebrini contributed a goal and an assist in the game. However, Canada eventually fell short to the United States 6-5 in overtime.
The 17-year-old is in his freshman season with Boston University, in which he has recorded 10 goals and 25 points through the first 15 games of the 2023-24 NCAA campaign.
Team Canada will resume their journey to reclaim their title as World Junior Champions with their first official game of the tournament against Finland on December 27th.
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Ducks rookie Leo Carlsson avoids season-ending injury
The Anaheim Ducks revealed good news when it came to the results of the injury to rookie forward Leo Carlsson, who was involved in a collision with Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar on Thursday night.
The Hockey News’ Henrik Sjoberg revealed Saturday that sources reported Carlsson’s injury is an MCL tear at either the grade one or two level, which could have been much worse, ultimately avoiding a season-ending injury.
The incident occurred midway through the third period of the Ducks versus Flames game on Thursday night when Carlsson collided with Weegar on the boards, causing him to fall on top of the Ducks forward. Immediately, Carlsson showed signs of pain and was helped off the ice by teammates nursing his right leg.
Before the incident, Carlsson contributed to two shots and 14:04 of ice time, with the addition of serving a two-minute penalty for tripping Flames forward Blake Coleman.
The 18-year-old has remained strong defensively through 23 games this season. Carlsson’s 50.84 expected goal share percentage is ranked fourth amongst Ducks players, and he has performed better than some of his teammates when he is on the ice with a 4.63 expected goal relative percentage.
Carlsson surprised some when he was selected second overall by the Ducks at the 2023 NHL draft, a spot nearly locked by Adam Fantilli. The forward is in his first year of the three-year entry-level deal he signed back in July, boasting a cap hit of $950,000, scoring eight goals and 15 points through 23 games with the Ducks this season.
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