Bo Horvat’s push to make Team Canada’s roster began when he went to World Championships in May and ended Wednesday morning when he got a call from assistant normal supervisor Don Sweeney, telling him congratulations.
“So many emotions going through my mind of pride and joy,” Horvat said on a Zoom call Wednesday after Hockey Canada announced its 25-man Olympic roster with his title on it. “Just honestly disbelief, too, at some point. Still hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m just so honored and privileged to be in this situation.”
All the method back on last season’s breakup day, Horvat said if he got the probability to go to Worlds, he’d take it, in half to burnish his Olympics case. After being effectively on the outside of Team Canada’s 4 Nations image, he wanted to do everything he could to make it to Milan.
Bo Horvat skates during heat up prior to the sport before the Islanders’ win over the Devils on Nov. 10, 2025 at Prudential Center. NHLI via Getty Images
And over the next eight months, Horvat fulfilled that mandate. He had eight factors in six video games at the World Championships. He began the common season on a scoring tear. He took a main function on a resurgent Islanders penalty kill.
He said again and again that making this team in what is possible his only probability to play at the Olympics — Horvat will be 34 when the 2030 Games get underway in Nice [France] — would imply everything to him.
“I wanted it bad. I wanted to represent our country. I wanted to wear the maple leaf,” Horvat said. “I was just trying to do whatever I could to, one, help our team win, the Islanders win. Also just to make it hard on [Hockey Canada] and make their decision tough. Kind of make my stamp of what I could bring to Hockey Canada. Thankfully it didn’t go unnoticed.”
Canada’s brass scouted the Islanders extensively to watch Horvat and Matthew Schaefer. Horvat finally confirmed them enough to make it as one of 4 forwards on the roster who weren’t on the 4 Nations squad, with Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny and Seth Jarvis being dropped.
The determination to drop Bennett, whose aim for Canada pressured time beyond regulation in the 4 Nations remaining, might have been the most controversial the administration group led by GM Doug Armstrong made.
Bo Horvat celebrates his aim during the shootout in the Islanders’ 1-0 win over the Kraken at UBS Arena on Nov. 23, 2025. NHLI via Getty Images
Tom Wilson’s inclusion on the roster, though, blunted some of the want for Bennett’s ability set as a heavy agitator and cleared the method for both Horvat and Montreal’s Nick Suzuki to be included.
While Horvat said Sweeney’s dialog with him Wednesday didn’t contact on function, it’s possible he’ll play in the backside six and perhaps get penalty-kill minutes.
Armstrong said Horvat’s capability to play a number of positions and distinctive faceoff numbers were key components in his choice.
“No matter what they tell me to do, I’ll do it,” Horvat said. “If it’s cleaning water bottles, I’ll do anything to be there.”
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