Macklin Celebrini Named USHL Forward of the Year
May 4, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - Chicago Steel forward Macklin Celebrini has been named the 2023 United States Hockey League Forward of the Year, the league announced Tuesday, adding to his post season accolades.
Celebrini, a 6-foot, 199 lbs., 16-year-old forward from Vancouver, British Columbia, was named to the All-USHL First Team and All-Rookie First Team as well as named USHL Rookie of the Year earlier this week.
Celebrini, a top prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft, is the third Steel player and first Steel rookie to earn the Forward of the Year Award joining Matt Coronato (2020-2021) and Andrew Miller (2008-2009).
"Mack proved he was a dominant player all year," said Steel Head Coach and General Manager Mike Garman. "He consistently generated high quality scoring chances while playing a 200-foot game. He never takes a shift off and is always working on both sides of the puck. Mack impacts the game in so many ways and is a top-notch teammate and leader."
The Boston University commit led the USHL is goals (46) and points (86) in just 50 games and broke a Steel franchise record for most single season power play goals (21) previously held by Coronato.
Celebrini earned USHL Forward of the Week honors four times during the regular season, and his eight game-winning goals tied for the second-most in franchise history. On Feb. 18 against USA Hockey NTDP (U17), Celebrini became the first Steel player in franchise history to score five goals in a game.
After matching Canada's single-tournament scoring record with 15 points at the recent IIHF World Under-18 Championship where he surpassed the most points by a player 16 or younger for Canada in the tournament, Celebrini is expected to return to the ice for the Steel this weekend as the team begins the best-of-five Eastern Conference Final against the Youngstown Phantoms.
The Eastern Conference Final begins this weekend at Fox Valley Ice Arena with Games 1 and 2 Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, before the series shifts to Youngstown for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) on Monday and Tuesday, May 8 and 9. If there is a Game 5, it would be played at the Fox Valley Ice Arena on Thursday, May 11.
Eastern Conference Final tickets are now on sale and may be purchased at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena, by phone at 855-51-STEEL or online at ChicagoSteelHockeyteam.com. Fans with questions should email info@ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com to learn more.
All Chicago Steel tickets are digital and available on mobile devices. Fans should create their profile online. For more information on digital tickets for the Chicago Steel, click here. Fans attending Steel home games this season are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arriving at the arena to avoid any delays on game night.
Season ticket plans for the 2023-2024 season are now on sale starting at just 5 games for just $50.
Upcoming Schedule presented by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush:
Eastern Conference Final - Best-of-Five
#1 Steel vs. #2 Youngstown
Game 1: YNG at Steel - Friday, May 5, 7:05 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena
Game 2: YNG at Steel - Saturday, May 6, 7:05 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena
Game 3: Steel at YNG - Monday, May 8 at 6:05 pm at Covelli Centre
Game 4 (if necessary): Steel at YNG - Tuesday, May 9 at 6:05 pm at Covelli Centre
Game 5 (if necessary): YNG at Steel - Thursday, May 11, 7:05 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena
All times CST
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