Top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Macklin Celebrini ejected during World Juniors Pre-tournament game

One of the top prospects in the upcoming NHL Draft has made a rude first impression prior to the World Juniors.

On Friday, Canada forward Macklin Celebrini was handed a game misconduct during a WJC pretournament game, after boarding Leo Braillard of Switzerland.

Celebrini was also given a five-minute major for boarding on the play.

Canada ended up winning their first of two pretournament games, 6-3, thanks to two goals from Owen Beck.

Canada has one more pretournament matchup coming up on Saturday against their longtime rivals, the United States.

Celebrini, who was on a Canadian team that won bronze at the IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championships last spring, is projected by some to be the No. 1 pick at the 2024 draft. Braillard, currently with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, is also a draft-eligible prospect.

Celebrini might have to sit out some time due to his actions against the Swiss. The International Ice Hockey Federation has the reputation of cracking down on major boarding and checking-from-behind penalties. There is a possibility that he might join a list of recent players who have been suspended around WJC time, including Canadians Justin Sourdif (2022), Braden Schneider (2021).

The IIHF has yet to make any announcement on whether or not Celebrini will be the subject of any supplemental discipline.

The Boston University product currently has 10 goals and 15 assists in the first 15 games of his NCAA freshman season, helping out a surging Terriers squad that has its sights set on heading to the Frozen Four in St. Paul this coming April.

Canada is set to begin Group A action on Boxing Day, with a tough matchup against Finland. That will be followed up by games against Latvia (Dec. 27), Sweden (Dec. 29) and Germany (Dec. 31) before heading into the knockout stage, which begins Jan. 2.