Facing hometown Canucks ‘a bit surreal’ for Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini WSOC TV [Video]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — (AP) — Macklin Celebrini grew up dreaming about playing NHL hockey at Rogers Arena.

On Monday night, that dream will become a reality.

“Skating here when I was younger, I kind of tried to put myself in an NHL player’s situation or shoes, and pretend to be them. And now I’m practicing here and getting ready for the game tomorrow,” the 18-year-old San Jose Sharks center said Sunday. “It’s pretty surreal.”

Raised in North Vancouver, Celebrini was picked first overall in the June draft. He has 11 goals and 12 assists in his first 24 games.

On Monday, he’ll look to add to the tally when he plays his hometown Vancouver Canucks for the first time.

It’s a major milestone for a young player who grew up around the team. His dad, Rick Celebrini, worked in health sciences with the Canucks and the Celebrini kids often found themselves at the rink.

“We’d kind of go …