Sharks' Olympic Quarterfinals Round-Up: Celebrini Shines, Regenda Hopes for Upset

Two San Jose Sharks players advance to the Olympic semifinals, while two others are headed home.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Olympic semifinals are set, with two San Jose Sharks players still in the running. Macklin Celebrini and Canada will face Finland, while Pavol Regenda and Slovakia look to upset the United States. Meanwhile, Alex Wennberg and Sweden, and Philipp Kurashev and Switzerland, have been eliminated.

Why it matters

The performance of Sharks players at the Olympics provides a glimpse into the future of the franchise, as Celebrini and Regenda showcase their skills on the international stage. The team's fans are eager to see how these young talents will translate their Olympic success to the NHL.

The details

Celebrini scored a goal and added two assists in Canada's 4-3 overtime victory over Czechia, playing over 22 minutes and impressing with his skill and speed. Regenda led Slovakia with three points, including two goals, in a 6-2 rout of Germany. Meanwhile, Wennberg went pointless in five games for Sweden, and Kurashev had one goal and three points for Switzerland.

  • The Olympic semifinals are set for Friday, February 19, 2026.
  • Celebrini and Canada will face Finland at 7:40 AM PT.
  • Regenda and Slovakia will take on the United States at 12:10 PM PT.
  • The bronze medal game will be played on Saturday, February 20, 2026.
  • The gold medal game will be played on Sunday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Macklin Celebrini

A 19-year-old forward for the San Jose Sharks, Celebrini has impressed with his skill and speed at the Olympics, playing a key role in Canada's quarterfinal victory.

Pavol Regenda

A winger for the San Jose Sharks, Regenda led Slovakia with three points, including two goals, in their 6-2 quarterfinal win over Germany.

Alex Wennberg

A center for the San Jose Sharks, Wennberg went pointless in five games for Sweden, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Philipp Kurashev

A forward for the San Jose Sharks, Kurashev had one goal and three points for Switzerland, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

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What they’re saying

“We see it everyday, right? And in our games, but the rest of the world is now seeing it.”

— Ryan Warsofsky, Head Coach, San Jose Sharks (Mercury News)

“He's the best player in the world.”

— Ryan Reaves (Mercury News)

“It's crazy. We were joking earlier that Mack is going to come back here and not want to play with any of us now. But, man, the speed on that line and the skill, it's ridiculous.”

— Adam Gaudette, San Jose Sharks Player (Twitter)

What’s next

The semifinal matchups on Friday will determine who will play for the bronze medal on Saturday and the gold on Sunday.

The takeaway

The strong performances of Sharks players Celebrini and Regenda at the Olympics showcase the team's promising future, as they continue to develop young talent that can compete at the highest levels of international hockey.