Bo Horvat of the Islanders feels ‘incredible’ after being selected for Canada’s Olympic team

Bo Horvat’s Olympic Journey

Bo Horvat’s path to joining Team Canada for the Olympics started with his participation in the world championship in May, culminating in a morning call from assistant general manager Don Sweeney, who had some exciting news.

“I felt a rush of emotions—pride and joy,” Horvat shared during a Zoom call on Wednesday after Hockey Canada revealed the 25-man roster. “Honestly, I was a bit in disbelief. It’s hard to wrap my head around it. I’m truly honored to be in this position.”

Horvat had made it clear after last season ended that he would eagerly participate in the world championships, aspiring to a spot in the Olympic games. He excelled in the Four Nations tournament, so he knew he needed to push himself to earn a place in Milan.

Over the next few months, he met his objective, amassing 8 points in 6 games at the World Championship. He did start the regular season a bit slow, but he quickly became a key player in the Islanders’ penalty kill.

He’s mentioned repeatedly that this was possibly his only opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics, especially considering he’ll be 34 when the 2030 Games take place in Nice, France. It really means a lot to him.

“I wanted to represent our country. I wanted to wear the Maple Leaf,” Horvat said. “I was focused on helping the team win, and I wanted to make it hard for the selectors.”

Officials from Hockey Canada kept a close watch on Horvat, as well as teammate Matthew Schaefer. Despite being among the four forwards who were not chosen for the Four Nations squad—alongside Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny, and Seth Jarvis—Horvat made a strong impression.

Some controversy surrounded the decision to exclude Bennett right after Canada’s goal in the Four Nations final, which raised eyebrows among fans.

Interestingly, the inclusion of Tom Wilson in the roster slightly diminished the need for Bennett’s specific qualities, allowing for both Horvat and Nick Suzuki from Montreal to secure spots.

While Horvat’s exact role wasn’t discussed during his conversation with Sweeney, it’s likely he’ll play in the bottom six and get some time on the penalty kill.