SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — When Marc-Andre Fleury made his NHL debut in 2003, Macklin Celebrini was nearly three years away from being born.
On Thursday, the two combined for a bit of statistical novelty as the San Jose Sharks phenom and the league’s youngest player scored on the Minnesota Wild goaltender – the NHL’s oldest.
“Good for him,” Fleury said with a laugh, when told about the stat.
Celebrini, the top pick in the NHL draft, scored twice in the Sharks’ 5-2 loss to the Wild. At 18 years old, Celebrini is more than two decades younger than Fleury, who has been in the league for 21 years and has indicated this will be his last season.
“He’s been in the league longer than I’ve been alive, so it’s been amazing to watch his career,” Celebrini said about Fleury. “Obviously, the runs he had with Pittsburgh and Vegas, and even him in Chicago and now Minnesota. He seems like a great personality, and it’s been fun to watch his off-ice antics as much as his on-ice.”
Celebrini’s first goal came when he was in the right spot at the right time on a 3-on-2 rush. His second was a wrist shot, a no-look goal that whistled past Fleury’s glove, off the crossbar and in. The 18-year-old had a team-leading seven shots and his second multi-point performance in three career games in what was his best game yet of his young career.
“He’s got good awareness of where guys are at,” Fleury said. “He’s got a good shot. That last goal, I love. I wish I could get it back, but (it was) still good. Right at the bar above my head. I’ll be looking forward to watching him.”
Fleury himself made history Thursday by playing in his 1,029th career game, tying Patrick Roy for most among NHL goaltenders.
He also won what could have been his last game in San Jose, and is on an eight-game win streak at the Shark Tank. Fleury backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2016, winning the championship in Game 6 in San Jose.
He said he’ll have fond memories of the building.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini moves the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) scores a goal against Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The NCAA Division I Council approved a rule Thursday allowing players with Canadian Hockey League experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season, a landmark decision that has the potential of shaking up the NHL’s two largest sources of developmental talent.
The decision, effective Aug. 1, lifts the NCAA’s longstanding ban on CHL players who were previously deemed to be professionals because they received a stipend of up to $600 per month for living expenses.
The approval was expected after the council introduced a proposal to lift the ban last month. Players competing at the major junior level or on professional teams can retain NCAA eligibility as long as they are not paid more than actual and necessary expenses.
The decision also applies to skiing, bringing both in line with NCAA eligibility rules for other sports
In doing so, the council opened the door for a major change in how players approaching their 16th birthdays decide where to play. Rather than having to choose between one or the other, CHL players can now play NCAA hockey when they become college eligible.
“Everyone expected the rule to change. Now we will have to adapt," Central Collegiate Hockey Association Commissioner Don Lucia wrote in a text to The Associated Press. "There may be a few issues as we transition. But hopefully, in time, it will prove to be a positive change for all involved.”
NHL agent Allan Walsh called the ruling a “game-changer.”
“This revolutionary development is great news for young players and their families, who will no longer be faced with the momentous decision of playing major junior or going the NCAA route,” Walsh added in a text message to The AP. “The young players and their families can now make decisions based on what’s best for them, not what’s best for the CHL or NCAA.”
The CHL oversees the Western Hockey, Ontario Hockey and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey leagues.
The decision could potentially spur the CHL to invest more toward player development and education to compete with the NCAA teams or risk losing its top 18-and-older talent to U.S. colleges. Meantime, an increase of CHL players could eat up college roster spots previously filled by Americans.
One option the CHL is considering in response to the ruling is increasing its current limit of two non-North American import players per roster. Otherwise, the CHL called the decision “a positive development” in providing players more athletic and academic opportunities.
The NCAA’s ruling follows a class-action lawsuit filed Aug. 13 in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, New York, challenging the ban.
“It's long overdue, but this is a great result,” Stephen Lagos, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit, wrote in an email to the AP. “We’re looking forward to players and fans seeing the benefits of a more competitive and fair market, without the rule, beginning next season.”
Lagos said the attorneys will continue pursuing the lawsuit in seeking damages for players who join the class-action case affected by the ban dating to Aug. 12, 2020.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Riley Masterson of Fort Erie, Ontario, who lost his college eligibility two years ago when, at 16, he appeared in two exhibition games for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. It lists 10 Division I hockey programs, which were selected to show they follow the NCAA’s bylaws in barring current or former CHL players.
NHL agent Brian Bartlett hailed the decision for opening choices for players.
“Just like the transfer portal and NIL rule changes of recent years, there will be some growing pains and early chaos, but we expect it will be a positive development in the long term,” Bartlett wrote in a text. “With a larger player pool, hopefully more NCAA schools will consider adding hockey programs to provide opportunities for those additional players.”
In September, Braxton Whitehead said he had verbally committed to Arizona State, making him the first CHL player to attempt to play hockey at the Division I U.S. college level. The 20-year-old Whitehead said he plans to play this season for the WHL Regina Pats before playing for the Sun Devils in 2025-26.
The stipends CHL players receive are not considered as income for tax purposes. College players, meantime, receive scholarships and now can earn money through endorsements and other use of their name, image or likeness.
The eligibility change could have a trickle down effect by impacting Canada's various junior A leagues and the USHL's ability to attract talent for those pursuing plans to play at U.S. colleges. Two recent NHL No. 1 draft picks, San Jose forward Macklin Celebrini and Buffalo defenseman Owen Power, played in the USHL.
“The USHL remains the world’s premier development path. All aspects of the league are focused on preparing athletes for collegiate and professional hockey, inclusive of on-ice, academic and character development,” the USHL said in a statement after the NCAA ruling.
AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
FILE - Cornell forward Kyle Penney, right, celebrates with forward Dalton Bancroft (17) after scoring during the third period of an NCAA hockey game against North Dakota on Nov. 2, 2024 in Ithaca, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, file)
FILE - Ohio St. forward Aiden Hansen-Bukata (20) and Lake Superior St. forward John Herrington (28) skate after the puck during an NCAA hockey game on Nov. 2, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin, file)
