Ex-Canucks captain Bo Horvat scores dazzling goal in his Olympic debut for Canada
Heading into the season, Bo Horvat was considered a long shot to make Team Canada for the Olympics.
But he defied the odds, becoming one of just three forwards and five players total to make Canada’s Olympic team after being left off the 4 Nations roster.
During the first game of the Olympics for Canada’s men’s ice hockey team, Horvat proved that he belongs.
Late in the second frame, the former Vancouver Canucks captain took a pass from longtime West Coast nemesis, Brad Marchand.
He ripped through the neutral zone and blew past two Czech defenders, including current Canucks blueliner Filip Hronek, and buried his first goal of the Olympics.
Former #Canucks captain Bo Horvat with a BEAUTY for Canada š¤©š
— Trevor Beggs (@TrevBeggs) February 12, 2026
The goal gave Canada a 3-0 lead over Czechia after two periods.
The former Canucks captain has proven to be worthy of the massive eight-year contract worth $8.5 million per season he signed with the New York Islanders shortly after joining the team.
And in 2025, he picked a prime time to author a career season. Even though he’s missed 14 NHL games this season due to injury, the London, Ontario, native is on pace for a career-high 37 goals in 68 games.
Horvat previously expressed his burning desire to join Team Canada, saying he’d do whatever the team asked.
āNo matter what they tell me to do, I’ll do it,ā Horvat said. āIf it’s cleaning water bottles, I’ll do anything to be there and any role that they want me to pick up or do. I’m glad to do it.ā
Even though Horvat was considered an Olympic afterthought, he backed up his desire to be an Olympian with his play on the ice.
āI wanted it bad,ā Horvat said. āI wanted to represent my country. I wanted to wear the maple leaf.”
Even early in Team Canada’s first game, Horvat was used as a defensive zone faceoff specialist by head coach Jon Cooper.
He’s been doing whatever it takes, and Horvat was rewarded for it with a goal on Thursday that he’ll never forget.