From Question Mark to Centerpiece: Bo Horvat’s Journey to Team Canada
Back in 2013, when the Vancouver Canucks made Bo Horvat the ninth overall pick in the NHL Draft, the expectations were solid but not sky-high. Sure, he had the pedigree, but there were plenty of scouts who projected him as a reliable two-way third-line center - the kind of player every team needs, but not necessarily one who headlines a roster.
Fast forward to 2026, and Horvat has blown past those projections like a power forward on a breakaway. Now 30 years old, a key contributor for the New York Islanders, and - most notably - a freshly minted member of Team Canada at the Olympics, Horvat has carved out a role that few saw coming.
He got the call recently from Hockey Canada, confirming he’d made the roster. For Horvat, it was a moment years in the making.
“When you finally get that call, and you work so hard for [not just] your whole career, but this entire year and to finally get rewarded for it, it definitely felt great,” Horvat said after Canada’s first practice in Milan. “It’s just one I’ll never forget.”
And how could he? This isn’t just another All-Star nod or a solid season stat line. This is Team Canada - arguably the most competitive hockey roster on the planet - and Horvat is centering a line with Sam Reinhart and Brandon Hagel.
If there’s a surprise name in Canada’s forward group, Horvat might be it. He’s one of just five skaters on the roster who didn’t suit up for the 4 Nations tournament last year.
But he’s made a strong case since then, starting with a standout showing at the World Championship, where he racked up eight points in six games. That performance rolled right into a strong NHL campaign with the Islanders, where he’s already posted 40 points in 44 games.
“I tried to do whatever I could to at least make the decision hard on them, if it wasn’t going to happen,” Horvat said. “But I believed that I could be a big piece of this puzzle and do what it took to get here. And thankfully, I did.”
That belief - and the work that came with it - is paying off. Horvat’s not just playing better; he’s evolved.
He’s no longer just a goal-scorer or a faceoff specialist. He’s become the kind of 200-foot player coaches trust in all situations.
Need a power-play presence? He’s there.
Killing a penalty late in a close game? He’s out there too.
That’s a far cry from his early days in Vancouver, where penalty killing wasn’t exactly his calling card. Now, he’s one of the Islanders’ most trusted forwards when they’re down a man, helping New York post one of the league’s top penalty kill units this season.
Asked what’s changed in his game since those Canuck years, Horvat didn’t hesitate.
“Being able to be put out there in any situation, whether it’s penalty kill, power play. Being that well-rounded two-way player… continue to grow and hopefully continue to grow after this.”
It’s a mindset that’s helped him stand out in a crowded field of Canadian talent. Just look at Mark Scheifele - 68 points this season and still left off the roster.
Offense alone doesn’t punch your ticket to Team Canada. Versatility, reliability, and the ability to play in all three zones?
That’s the currency that matters.
Horvat’s been to two All-Star Games, but this - wearing the maple leaf on Olympic ice - is a different level of recognition.
“This is the top. This is as good as it gets, obviously, for so many reasons,” he said.
“Playing with [and against] the best players in the world. This is the biggest stage.
I’m so excited to be here, honoured to be here, and I can’t wait to get playing.”
From draft-day projections to Olympic center, Horvat’s journey is a case study in development, belief, and doing the little things right. He didn’t just make Team Canada - he earned it.