Tag Archives: Bo Horvat

For Bo.

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They say when you fall in love with hockey, that you should never get attached to players as inevitably they will not stay their entire career with one team. It’s the business side of the sport. They remind you of this fact ceaselessly when you first discover it’s magic and you quickly shove away that truth as you fall deeper and deeper with no abandon into the love of the game.

Hockey can be particularly cruel when it comes to growing attached to a player as your favourite and just when you could never fathom that truth becoming fact that they will in fact move on or be moved, and then it happens. The pain you feel is immediate and deep. Some may say you’re crazy to feel so deeply attached to an athlete but the truth is these players become so much more than just a player, they become almost a part of you. It sounds weird but it’s true.

Today, is one of those deep pain filled days that I have to grapple with as a fan. Today I have to accept the reality that Bo Horvat is no longer a Vancouver Canuck. Up until this last week, I never really believed he wouldn’t be with the team for his entire career.

I can still remember with distinct clarity the moment he was drafter in 2013 and how immediately I felt that he’d do well here under the tutelage of the Sedins. In Vancouver, we got to witness Bo grow from a promising rookie to a player following in the footsteps of Henrik and Daniel Sedin to the natural leader on the team. It was absolutely no question when the Sedins retired that Bo would be named captain. Everyone expected it and he wore the “C” very well during his tenure. With Bo, he always gave his all every shift on the ice and off of the ice was exceptional within the community. It’s been special to see the progression from the start of his career to the next level that he was reaching this current season.

It is really hard to see players that have become so entrenched in the team and the hearts of fans be moved. As fans, we know that it’s an inevitable price in the game but still it has the ability to break your heart in an instant. Someone asked me what I will do with my Horvat jerseys now that he’s no longer a Canuck, my answer is this: I will keep them because they represent to me everything that BO was while he was here: determination, heart and tenacity. He may be moving to another team but that doesn’t undo everything that he was as a player and individual in Vancouver.

You better BO-lieve, I’ll be rooting for you CAP no matter where you play(except for maybe Boston, you know why). To me, you will always be a Canuck to the end no matter what. All the best in Long Island and hopefully one day down the road you’ll back in Canucks colours before all is said and done!

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

Vancouver Canucks: Bo Captain, My Captain!

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Bo captain, my captain! It’s a BO time! The best worst kept secret around town became OFFICIAL when the Canucks dropped the puck for their home opener on October 9th. Bo Horvat was named the 14th captain in franchise history.

And yes, I know this isn’t brand new information BUT between work and getting sick, it has taken me some time to process all that happened when this “secret” was announced.

I’ve said for the (AT LEAST) the last two years, that it would be Bo Horvat who would be the next captain after Henrik. Just ask my family, I constantly said it and I never wavered despite being told I shouldn’t be so confident in a decision that was a ways down the road. I can’t explain precisely why I was so certain it would be Bo, it was just a something I couldn’t shake. And when I would think about Bo eventually getting named captain, I just KNEW that somehow Henrik had to be involved in the moment. Again, I can’t explain why I felt that would happen, but again I couldn’t shake the feeling that’s how it was going to happen. And when it DID, it was everything that I hoped it would be!

It was a moment that was 6 years in the making. Before Henrik and Daniel retired, there were a lot of rumours swirling as to who could possibly follow in their footsteps. Bo Horvat was the natural choice. It was one of the few times that almost the entirety of Canucks fans was in agreement on something.

From the moment he made his debut 6 years ago, to his steady development both on and off of the ice over the years that followed, including last year when he was named to the leadership group, he has shown that he’s more than ready for this challenge. His first four years were spent under the leadership of Henrik and Daniel.

Last season, it was the right choice to not have a captain but rather a leadership group that would work together during a transition year. A year that would see the growth of the young core. This year is time for that young group to take a step forward towards the future, a new era.

WHAT A MOMENT IT WAS:

OH THE SYMMETRY.

October 9, 1970: Vancouver Canucks play their first NHL game.

October 9, 2010: Henrik Sedin named the 13th Captain in franchise history.

October 9, 2019: Bo Horvat officially named the 14th Captain in franchise history.

And in case, you wanted a deeper look into the official moment he was given the captaincy:

I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way for the captaincy to be passed onto Bo. Since being named captain, the Canucks have a 5-1-0 record. Not too shabby, not too shabby at all. And can we talk about his PPG versus the Rangers?!l

Here’s to the rest of the season and a bright future!

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

Vancouver Canucks: A Look Towards the Bright Side

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The 2018-2019 season is well under way, so let’s take a closer look at some Vancouver Canucks season so far. If you were just to look solely at their overall standings, you would think the season was not so great, especially if you only saw their recent stretch of hockey BUT you would also be missing out on a lot of good things actually occurring within that tough stretch. I could write about those stats and the ‘negative’ results but there’s enough of those pieces already written, and you know me, I love to take a look at the bright side, always.

The kids are getting time to play and scoring goals. The younger players are getting a chance to play bigger minutes and bigger roles, something that Canucks fans have really wanted to see the team embrace that last few seasons.

The talk of the town through the first quarter has been the electric play of Elias Pettersson for good reason, he’s been an absolute sensation every time he’s on the ice. He brings the arena to their feet and gets the fans buzzing all over social media.

It’s not just his shot which is insanely accurate, it’s his creativity with and without the puck.He’s always ready for the next play, and always anticipating not just his own spot on the ice, but anticipating where his line mates will be. He gives fans goosebumps with his moves on the ice and echoes plays made by the Sedins all the while paving his own path.

There’s are a few other Vancouver Canuck that have been quietly having an incredible start to the season, and one of them is Bo Horvat. The Sedins leaving left a leadership void and a scoring void. Bo has been leading the way behind the scenes and on the ice. While many eyes have been poised on the impressive debut of Pettersson, Horvat has been quietly putting up some impressive and consistent numbers (12 goals, 13 assists). He said he wanted to be a leader and appears to be the natural choice as the next Vancouver Canucks captain when the time comes as he leads the way on and off of the ice.

Jake Virtanen, the 2014 draft pick that MANY said was a bust before he even played a game and then wrote him off when he struggled his first two years. Last season, under Travis Green after having spent part of the 2016-17 season in Utica, he began to show glimpses of the player that the Canucks hoped he could be. This season, Jake is off to his best start as a Canuck, giving fans a glimpse of the player they all hope he can be.

Adam Gaudette fresh off scoring his first ever NHL goal is getting better and better with the every game that he plays. As the season has gone on, he’s adapting more and more to the NHL style and in all areas of his game.

Ben Hutton. It’s no secret that he struggled to find his footing and consistency all of last season. So far, this season he’s been one of the Canucks most solid blue liners. He’s come a long way from his constant days of being scratched last season, to his days of now being reliable.

Troy Stecher has also been establishing himself on the blue line a little bit more this season and endearing himself to Canucks fans.

Sure the season hasn’t been anywhere near perfect and the team has struggled of late BUT there’s been a lot of good mixed in. Each loss, and every win is a learning curve for this group, they can take a lesson from every situation as the season moves along.

And Canucks fans, prepare yourselves for many more Bo, Brock and Petey moments still to come as the season continues!

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

You Better BO-lieve it…

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Now that deal is officially signed and Bo Horvat is locked in long-term with the Canucks, it’s time to take a different approach than what I’ve seen making the rounds on social media today.

Where do I begin? Here goes:

Dear Bo,

First, let me say: congratulations on the new contract extension!

I can still remember the day that you were drafted, crystal clear and the slight uproar that followed. It was an unexpected move to hear that Vancouver had traded Cory Schneider for a top ten draft pick, and yes initially some people were upset with the trade. No one knew what to expect when your name was announced by Vancouver or how the future would unfold. Four years later and every one who was uncertain is now rooting for you, wearing your jersey and envisioning a long tenure for you with the Canucks.

Today was a great day for the franchise when they announced your extension. It shows that the team sees what you bring to the team both on and off of the ice now and in the future. Playing in the NHL is no easy feat but you’ve come a long way from the day you were drafted and days in the OHL. From a rookie finding his way developing into a 2-way forward with a knack for timely goals and defensive plays to a community ambassador.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to ignore the negative narratives out there, don’t let them bring you down; instead use those voices to push you and prove all your critics wrong. There will be praise and good days and there will be critics and there will be hard days but from the short time you’ve already been in the league, you have proven that you are able to handle all of it. And if you ever need an example to look to, look no further than to Henrik and Daniel who have been through it all before.

You came into an unknown atmosphere across the country and made a city full of doubters into BO-lievers.

Here’s to the upcoming season about to start that will feature many BO-SCOREvat moments and the start of a very promising future for you and the Vancouver Canucks!

Sarah E.L.