NY Islanders Bo Horvat made a hard decision an easy choice for Canada with his play

Bo Horvat left little doubt this season that he belonged on hockey’s biggest international stage.

The New York Islanders center received confirmation of that on Wednesday morning, when Hockey Canada informed him he had been selected to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. The call, delivered by Team Canada assistant general manager Don Sweeney, capped a season in which Horvat’s consistent, two-way excellence made his case unavoidable.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Horvat said. “There’s a lot of pride and joy, and honestly some disbelief. I’m just so honored to be in this position.”

Horvat has been one of the Islanders’ most reliable players all season, leading the club with 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists) through 35 games. His 21 goals rank among the top Canadian scorers in the NHL, tied with players such as Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini, both of whom were also named to the Olympic roster.

Beyond the scoring totals, Horvat’s all-situations value stood out. He owns a 57.7 faceoff winning percentage, among the best of Canadian skaters with significant draws taken, while logging regular minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. He averages more than six combined minutes per game on special teams, underscoring the versatility Team Canada covets in tournament play.

“I wanted it bad,” Horvat said. “I was trying to do whatever I could to help the Islanders win and also make it hard on Hockey Canada to leave me off.” Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said Horvat’s complete game made him an easy choice. “He’s a strong 200-foot player,” Armstrong said. “He can help in all situations and play multiple roles, which is extremely valuable in a tournament like this.”

The Olympics will mark Horvat’s first appearance at the Winter Games, though he has represented Canada previously at international events, including the 2024 world championship. For Horvat, the honor is deeply personal — and shared first with his family. “That’s the part I’ll never forget,” he said. “Being able to share that moment with them means everything.”