Remember when the Vancouver Canucks drafted Bo Horvat in 2013?

While he was clearly a highly touted prospect as the ninth overall pick, there were analysts that viewed him as a future third-line centre.

He quickly dispelled that idea in Vancouver, but even when the Canucks traded him in 2023, I’m not sure how many people thought he’d become a first-line centre good enough to make Team Canada.

But that’s what happened when Hockey Canada management told him he made the team.

He said it was a phone call he’ll never forget.

“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. It’s just one I’ll never forget,” Horvat said after Canada’s first practice Sunday in Milan, where he skated between Sam Reinhart and Brandon Hagel.

If there was a surprise pick for Team Canada, Horvat may have been it. He’s one of just five skaters that didn’t play for Canada at the 4 Nations last year.

Since then, Horvat suited up for Canada at the World Championship, scoring eight points (4-4-8) in six games. He followed that up with an impressive start to the season with the New York Islanders, where he has 40 points (24-16-40) 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. 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.”

Now 30 years old, with a wife and two kids, Horvat’s game has matured too.

In Vancouver, Horvat wasn’t a particularly good penalty killer, for instance.

He’s now one of the Islanders’ most counted on forwards while shorthanded, helping New York post the eighth-best penalty kill percentage in the NHL this season.

And when Daily Hive asked Horvat how his game has changed since his Canucks days, he pointed to growing his game as a “200-foot player.”

Because piling up points doesn’t necessarily get you on Team Canada. Mark Scheifele (68 points and not on the roster) is proof of that.

“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.”

Horvat has played in two All-Star Games in his career, but when it comes to receiving recognition for his play, nothing comes close to this.

“This is the top. This is as good as it gets, obviously, for so many reasons. 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.”

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