Hockey East announced today that Boston University freshman forward Macklin Celebrini has been named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year and Hockey East Player of the Year.

Celebrini becomes just the fourth player win Hockey East Rookie and Player of the Year awards in a single season following Jack Eichel (2014-15), Paul Kariya (1992-93), and Brian Leetch (1986-87).

As the youngest player in college hockey at 17 years old, Celebrini currently sits second overall in the nation in goals (30), third in points (55) and shots (158), and fourth in power-play goals (11). He leads all rookies in goals, shots, and power-play goals, and is tied for eighth with three game-winning tallies. In 23 Hockey East games, he led all players with 44 points, nine power-play goals, 1.91 points per game and was second with 23 goals, 112 shots on net, and a plus-18 on-ice rating. He also won 190 faceoffs, 12th most in the league.

The San Jose Jr. Sharks alum left his mark on several season-long categories, as no rookie has ever scored more goals in league play than his 23, and his 1.00 goals per game is the best mark among rookies and seventh-best all time in the 40-year history of Hockey East. His 44 league points are the fifth-most by a freshman ever and the most since Eichel’s 44 in 2014-15. At 1.91 points per game as a first-year player, only Eichel and Kariya scored at a higher pace. He recorded a point in 25 of 30 games played, including 19 multi-point games and six games with at least three points.

Celebrini was the lone unanimous selection to the All-Hockey East First Team and was one of three rookies selected unanimously to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team. The Vancouver native was a six-time Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week, two-time Hockey East Player of the Week, Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month in January and was named Hockey East and National Player of the Month in October.

Celebrini is the first Terrier to record 30 goals in a season since Chris Drury scored 38 during the 1996-97 season.

Photo/Matt Woolverton

(March 20, 2024)