In his senior year at Boston University, Aiden Celebrini is soaking up every part of this season. Every practice, every game, and every trip to a familiar rink carries a little more meaning.
It feels like the last three years flew by, and while the defenceman wants to make the most of every moment, he can’t wait to get the regular season started.
“It kind of creates a last for everything and makes every game all the more special and all the more enjoyable. Going up to Vermont next week, I’m going to definitely appreciate playing in that barn again,” Celebrini said.
“You find the graduation goggles in every rink you play in this last year, so definitely excited to get going.”
That mindset has been reinforced by Vancouver Canucks development coaches Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek, who have encouraged him to play with confidence and enjoy the experience.
It is a message the 21-year-old has taken to heart, particularly after spending the offseason working to become a more confident and effective player.
Celebrini and the Boston University Terriers have already gotten off to a strong start, winning all three of their exhibition games. The Terriers travelled to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to take on the Nanooks twice before returning home to take on Brown University.
Celebrini said the games offered an opportunity to build chemistry with his teammates, find their rhythm, and establish some momentum heading into the regular season.
“They were a well-coached team; they played really defensively, and they tested us,” Celebrini said of the Nanooks.
“It was good seeing the [BU] guys rise to the challenge and start the season off on a good note."
The trip also gave Celebrini a chance to experience a new place. Having never visited Alaska, he enjoyed exploring the area with his teammates before the games, including a trip to a hot spring and a visit to a dog sled kennel.
Alaska brought back memories of his junior hockey days with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, where he became familiar with the close-knit communities that embrace hockey.
“It was a small town, and you could tell they loved hockey up there. It was a really cool atmosphere, and we got a few days beforehand to explore a little bit. You really reconnect with nature out there, that's for sure,” Celebrini said.
Celebrini has always understood the importance of putting in work away from the rink. He uses the offseason to take an honest look at his game, identify areas for improvement, and come away with a fresh perspective.
This summer, he focused on his speed, defensive strategy, and the mental part of the game. Improving his footwork, mobility, and first three steps was a priority, which can make the difference between creating an opportunity and shutting one down.
Celebrini has a high hockey IQ and understands the game at a high level. At times, that ability to process the game can lead to overthinking, and he recognized that second-guessing himself had affected his decision-making in the past. He used this summer to reset, study the game, and develop a stronger belief in his instincts.
“I've already seen great strides in the few exhibition games that we have played,” Celebrini said. “The summer is where you get to kind of reinvent yourself and after a tough year last year, it was crucial that this summer I took all the time that I had to really reinvent myself as a player and come into this season and prove a lot of people wrong and a lot of people right.”
He spent time watching video and studying the game, looking for ways to improve his reads and decision-making. Just as importantly, he worked on accepting that mistakes are part of hockey and learning not to let them affect his confidence on the next play.
“I found confidence, I found trust in myself, and I developed the swagger where I was going to live and die with whatever decision I made and hoping that on the ice it's as close to the right decision as I can get. Obviously, mistakes do happen, and I think that's another thing where it's not letting mistakes breach that confidence,” Celebrini said.
“It was kind of steering away from that perfectionism and focusing more on not being a perfectionist but [focusing on] effectiveness.”
Celebrini led the Terriers in blocked shots last season (64) and while he takes pride in being consistent and strong in his game, his goal this season is to kill plays before they have a chance to develop.
