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From rivals to friends: BU’s Macklin Celebrini nets first NHL hat trick for Sharks — with three assists from BC’s Will Smith
“Was one of [Celebrini’s] better games here as of late, obviously with points and whatnot. And then Will [Smith] as well. ... But yeah, we just got a really good look at the future.”
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A college rivalry has seamlessly turned into an off-ice friendship and an on-ice connection for San Jose Sharks forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
Celebrini, who won the Hobey Baker Award in his one season at Boston University, scored his first NHL hat trick Wednesday night, assisted on all three snipes by Smith, a former Boston College star.
Celebrini returned the favor in the final minute of regulation with the secondary assist on Smith’s goal, which tied the Sharks’ game against Minnesota at 7-7 and forced overtime.
Despite the young duo’s late effort, the Wild won it in the extra period, 8-7.
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“We just got a good look at the future, didn’t we?” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Was one of [Celebrini’s] better games here as of late, obviously with points and whatnot. And then Will [Smith] as well. … But yeah, we just got a really good look at the future.”
Celebrini, selected first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, and Smith, drafted fourth in 2023, have become known as “two peas in a pod,” Sharks forward Alex Wennberg told NHL.com in November.
The rookies have become known for their off-ice friendship and antics.
The former college rivals made a friendly wager on three of BC and BU’s games this season. After Smith’s Eagles beat Celebrini’s Terriers twice in the regular season, Celebrini begrudgingly donned a maroon-and-gold jersey as he walked into San Jose’s SAP Center.
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A few weeks later, Celebrini got his revenge. The Terriers beat BC in the Beanpot final, and Smith paid the price, wearing Celebrini’s college jersey before a game against the Bruins.
A photo of the pair went viral earlier this year after they made a bet with Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli that if all three of them scored in a game, they had to share a hotel room that night.
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