Where is Nathan MacKinnon from?

Nathan MacKinnon was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. More specifically, Mackinnon is from Cole Harbour, the same place where Sidney Crosby grew up.

What was Nathan MacKinnon’s childhood like in Nova Scotia?

MacKinnon grew up looking up to Nova Scotian hockey stars like Crosby and Brad Marchand as he followed in their footsteps. Mackinnon was extremely competitive as a child and was close with his family, including his parents and sister.

When did Nathan MacKinnon start playing hockey?

MacKinnon began ice skating at two and took to the sport at a rapid pace. At four, he joined his first team in the Timbits youth hockey program. By 8 years old, he was insistent on becoming a hockey player, writing on a player card that he wanted to play for the Colorado Avalanche, according to his father.

How old is Nathan MacKinnon in 2026?

MacKinnon was born on Sept. 1, 1995. He will be 30 years old at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

What position does Nathan MacKinnon play?

MacKinnon plays center on the first line for the Avalanche.

Why is Nathan MacKinnon known as one of the fastest players in the NHL?

While MacKinnon indisputably is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, there are several reasons to which people attribute his speed. MacKinnon focused on his speed as a kid, turning it into an advantage on the ice. As an adult, he has trained with power skating professionals to maximize his stride length and balance. Off the ice, MacKinnon’s focus on strength workout and biomechanics has improved his acceleration, helping him breeze past defenders.

What is Nathan MacKinnon’s career timeline with the Colorado Avalanche?

MacKinnon has spent his entire career playing for the Colorado Avalanche. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2014 as the league’s most outstanding rookie and finished as a finalist for the Hart (MVP) trophy in 2018, 2020 and 2021 before winning the award in 2024. In 2020, he won the Lady Byng Trophy in recognition of his sportsmanship and conduct. In 2017, MacKinnon was named to his first of seven consecutive All-Star teams. In 2022, MacKinnon won his first Stanley Cup with the Avalanche.

What year was Nathan MacKinnon drafted into the NHL?

MacKinnon was drafted into the NHL in 2013.

What pick was Nathan MacKinnon in the NHL draft?

MacKinnon was selected as the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, where he has played his entire career.

How old was Nathan MacKinnon when he made his NHL debut?

MacKinnon was 18 years old when he made his debut in the NHL.

What are Nathan MacKinnon’s career stats in the regular season and playoffs?

As of November 19, MacKinnon has played 889 regular season games in his career, scoring 381 goals with 667 assists for a total of 1048 points. In the playoffs, MacKinnon has played 95 games with 55 goals and 70 assists for a total of 125 points.

How many Stanley Cups has Nathan MacKinnon won with the Avalanche?

As of the beginning of the 2025-26 season, MacKinnon has won one Stanley Cup with the Avalanche. The team won the Cup in 2022, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

How many All-Star Games has Nathan MacKinnon played in?

MacKinnon was selected for his first All-Star Game back in 2017 and has been selected every single year since (except for the 2021 season, when the game was not held). Of his seven selections, MacKinnon has played in five All-Star Games, sitting out in 2019 and 2022 due to injury.

How many MVP awards (Hart Trophies) has Nathan MacKinnon won?

After years of finishing as a finalist for the MVP award, MacKinnon won his first elusive Hart Trophy in 2024. That same year, he also won the Ted Lindsay Award (MVP voted by fellow members of the NHL Players Association, while the Hart Trophy is voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association). It was MacKinnon’s fourth time as a finalist for the Hart (he finished as runner-up in the 2017-18 and 2019-20 seasons and finished in third place during the 2020-21 season).

Where did Nathan MacKinnon play junior hockey before the NHL?

Just as MacKinnon grew up watching Crosby play hockey, he also followed in his hometown hero’s footsteps in the junior leagues. MacKinnon played two years of Bantam (a youth league classification) hockey with the Cole Harbour Red Wings before transferring to Shattuck-Saint Mary’s, a hockey prep school in Minnesota, where he played for two seasons (just as Crosby had). At 16, Mackinnon was the first overall pick in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) by the Bale-Comeu Drakkar. Because MacKinnon did not speak French, he forced a trade from the Quebec-based team and ended up with the Halifax Mooseheads, where he played two seasons.

What records and awards did Nathan MacKinnon earn in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads?

MacKinnon had a strong career with the Mooseheads, leading the team to its first ever Memorial Cup championship and winning the cup MVP in 2013. That year, the Mooseheads also won the QMHL league championship. At 16, he scored five goals in a single game, tying the Mooseheads’ record for most goals in a game. 

How did Nathan MacKinnon perform in the Memorial Cup?

MacKinnon had a sublime performance at the 2013 Memorial Cup en route to being named tournament MVP. He had seven goals and six assists in four games over the course of the Cup, including a hat trick and game-winning goal in the Cup final. MacKinnon’s performance in the Memorial Cup was a standout element of his draft profile, contributing to his selection as the first overall pick in the NHL draft.

What made Nathan MacKinnon such a highly-rated draft prospect?

As a draft prospect, MacKinnon was highly-rated for his physical and technical abilities, as well as his singular impact on the ice. His highlights included his elite speed and skating mechanics, his scoring ability and his mental strength and work ethic.

What Canadian TV show did Nathan MacKinnon have a recurring role in?

MacKinnon had a small guest role in the Canadian comedy series Mr. D, where he played a character named Nathan. He also appeared as himself in the mockumentary Trailer Park Boys.

Does Nathan MacKinnon have a nickname?

MacKinnon has picked up a few nicknames throughout his career, mostly revolving around shortening parts of his name. Examples include Mack Daddy, Nate Dogg, Lil’ Mac, Big Mac Daddy, and the Wizard of Ahhs, which he got for his dazzling play.

Are Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby close friends?

MacKinnon grew up following in Crosby’s footsteps, and now the two Cole Harbour natives are  close friends, neighbors, and training partners. The two often train together in the offseason and have been public about the respect they have for one another on and off the ice. They also form a dangerous pair when they play together for Team Canada.