Matias Maccelli

Matias Maccelli (born October 14, 2000) is a Finnish-American professional ice hockey left wing who currently plays for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). Maccelli was drafted in the fourth round, 98th overall, by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. On July 16, 2023, Maccelli signed a three-year, $3.425 million contract extension with the Coyotes.

Early life
Maccelli was born to an American-born mother and Finnish father in Turku, Finland. His mother had moved to Finland when she was seven years old. Maccelli is of Italian descent through his maternal great-grandfather who was from Italy.

Career
Maccelli began his junior career with HC Turun Palloseura (or TPS) of the Finnish Liiga. In 2017 he joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 98 games with Dubuque, he scored 39 goals and 93 points. In his second year in the USHL, his play led him to being named to the ALL-USHL Second Team. In 2019 Maccelli returned to Finland to join Ilves of Liiga.

Maccelli was selected by the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL) 98th overall in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In his first season with Ilves, the 2019–20 season, he scored 13 goals and 30 points in 42 games. Maccelli signed a three-year entry-level contract with Arizona on April 29, 2020, while still playing for Ilves. He was named the league's rookie of the year, being awarded the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy. On July 17, 2020, it was announced that Maccelli would stay at Ilves after an open-ended agreement was reached between the Finnish team and Arizona. He played well with Ilves during the 2020–21 season.

For the 2021–22 season, Maccelli returned to North America, joining Arizona's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. He scored 14 goals and 57 points in 47 games with Tucson. He was recalled by Arizona in March 2022 to replace Andrew Ladd who had been placed on injured reserve. He made his NHL debut in a 2–1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on March 3, 2022. He scored his first NHL goal in his second game on March 6 versus the Ottawa Senators.

Maccelli broke out in the 2022–23 season, making the Coyotes out of training camp. In his first 30 games, he scored three goals and 22 points. He suffered a lower-body injury that led to some missed time, but upon his return, scored seven goals and 23 points in his next 30 games. He finished the season with 11 goals and 49 points in 64 games with the Coyotes and was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team, playing a major role in the team's power play. On July 16, 2023, Maccelli signed a three-year contract with Arizona.

Shortly after the end of the 2023–24 regular season, the Coyotes' franchise was suspended and team assets were subsequently transferred to the expansion Utah Hockey Club; as a result, Maccelli became a member of the Utah team.

International
Maccelli played for Finland at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in 2017. He played for the team again during the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, scoring two goals and five points in seven games.