Connor Bedard & Macklin Celebrini: Young Guns Making Their Team Canada Case

A new generation of Canadian hockey talent is making its mark, and fast. Rising stars Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini are not just the future of the sport; they are already forcing their way into the present conversation.

Both forwards were invited to Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, where they are being seriously evaluated as potential candidates for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. According to Chicago Hockey Now, the invitations were not simply developmental. Hockey Canada is openly considering both players for roster spots against the world’s best.

Bedard has wasted no time proving he belongs in that discussion. With 22 points in 15 games, he continues to showcase the elite scoring touch that made him one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. Meanwhile, Celebrini has shown equal promise. At just 19 years old, he has displayed maturity beyond his years, leading the NHL in scoring with 23 points and earning praise for his complete two-way game (Sportsnet.ca, Dose.ca).

As of early November, both players sit comfortably within the league’s top five in points, underscoring their immediate impact. If either or both make the Olympic roster, it would mark a symbolic generational shift for Team Canada. The torch may be passed sooner than anyone expected, setting the stage for a new era of international dominance led by two prodigies who are already redefining what "next up" means.

Sources: Chicago Hockey Now | Sportsnet | Dose.ca | ESPN | Hockey Reference