OverDrive - Horvat on representing Canada at the Olympics, the Islanders' season and Schaefer's spotlight

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

New York Islanders Forward Bo Horvat joined OverDrive to discuss his season with the Islanders, Matthew Schaefer's incredible impact and role on the roster, Patrick Roy's stature on the bench, making Canada at the Olympics, representing the country and more.

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Good. How's going, guys? Thank you for having me. Absolutely. We're doing well. I mean, you guys, how much fun was that the last couple of nights beating the Rangers? It's always good. Yeah, I know a lot of smiles in the room.

You know, obviously, Rangers are a good hockey club, and have been for many years, but to get those two back-to-back wins against him definitely felt really nice. So, Bo, is there something different this year than, you know, maybe last year's team? I know there's been a little bit of different roster construction, but is it as simple as everybody, knock on wood, has been healthy and playing to their capabilities,

and maybe an 18-year-old stud that's jumped in on the back end that's helped? Yeah, no, that guy's been really good for us and definitely a big reason of why we are where we're at right now. He logs a lot of heavy minutes for us, power play, penalty kill, five on five minutes. I mean, yeah, no, he's a big reason of where we are right now. And obviously, Ilya has been playing unbelievable for us too. So, yeah, but I think everybody's just pulling on the rope. I mean, when guys have gone down, you know, palms going down, Romy going down, other guys have just stepped up in big ways.

And, yeah, no, it's just been overall, really good team efforts for this year. Well, you mentioned Schaefer. I was wondering, like, he's 18. Has there been, like, can you pinpoint a moment where you're like, man, this guy is making me feel old? Yeah, right away. Yeah, no, I, yeah.

You know, he's just, he is. He's such a little kid around the rank and around the room. But then all of a sudden he gets on the ice and he looks like he's a 30-year-old hockey player, you know, and it's his first year in the league. Like he said, he just turned 18 before the season started. You forget sometimes how young he really is, but he's just been such a stud for us, and he's a great kid off the ice as well. With Bull Horvada of the New York Islanders, another change that didn't happen.

this year, but it did happen recently would be Patrick Waugh taken over. They need a camera like a live barn of just Patrick behind a bench, man. Like he is so intense. You know, he, who is he going at? Was it Rantington earlier in the year? He was freaking out when Ranting and knocked out one of your guys?

And, you know, he's been intense his whole career clearly, but, you know, how, how is that factored into the motivation of the group? And how has it maybe affected you in particular playing for a guy like Patrick Waugh? Yeah, I think it does. It's, you know, it's contagious.

Like his passion for the game, his love for the game is, you know, he just wants to win so bad. And it's like I said, it's contagious. It rubs off on guys and guys kind of want to do the same thing. You know, it's just, you know, it starts with him and it kind of goes all the way down through our lineup. So he's been great for us, you know, and just his motivation. and actually he's super positive too. You know, like we could be down in the game, you know, three nothing going into a third period,

and he still believes that we have the team and we have the group in there to come back and win the game. So his belief and his passion for the game is just rubbed off on us in a big way. Well, you mentioned Sorokin and how great he's been this year, but, you know, it's got to feel a little bit like when, you know, Gretzky used to coach, and we've interviewed players where they're like, man, it was weird having Gretzky behind a bench. Because he'd see something and think, like, why didn't you make that play?

And the guy would be like, well, I'm me and you're Wayne Gretzky. How have you kind of picked up on the relationship between Juan Sorokin, who, again, Sorokin's been great, but Patrick Waugh is one of the all-time greats in that? Yeah, like, I mean, it would be intimidating for sure as a goal, especially at the beginning. until you kind of got comfortable. But, you know, like if I was, you know, if I had Wayne Gretti coaching me, I'd definitely be intimidated. But, yeah, I think they've, you know, Patrick's knows when to say something and when not to. And I think they have a really good relationship that way of, you know, the kind of the give and take.

And, you know, he's been so good for us all year. And ever since I got here, he's been, he's a phenomenal goal tenor. We're so lucky to have him. with how special was it to get sorry how special was it to get the call for for the Olympics and where were you and what was the reaction

and your first call afterwards was it to your family or what to walk us through that yeah it was a pretty special moment it was actually it's a crazy story like we got a weather delay coming back from Chicago the night before so we ended up getting stuck on the plane

basically all night and flew in early in the morning and got, you know, we probably, we were up all night. We didn't get home until 7.7.30 and I got home and obviously didn't hear anything as of yet. So I'm like, I'm just going to try to get a little bit of sleep at least. And literally it's just as I fell asleep, maybe like a half hour into my sleep, my phone rang. And it was, it was Don Sweeney giving me a call. So I was kind of like half asleep when I got the phone call and all of a sudden, yeah, no, it was tough to sleep after that. So I was running on very little sleep, but, you know, it was a pretty special moment for me. I mean, yeah, I just told my family, all my friends and family right away. And, yeah, tried to get a little bit of sleep after that, but it was tough to get that done.

But it was just, I couldn't believe it. And something I'll never forget. Yeah, so how do you prepare for something like this? you know, there's so many of you outside of Sid and Dowdy, I guess. None of you have been in the Olympics. So do you rely simply on Sid and Dowdy, or are you going to have to figure it out among yourselves? What do you think the plan is going to be in terms of kind of wading into Olympic life?

Yeah, I mean, I think, yeah, a lot of questions. But, yeah, I got to play with Sid at the World Championships this past year. And, you know, he's such a special person, special player, that, yeah, no, he's super easy to talk to and to lean on and to follow. So, yeah, I'm definitely going to be asking some questions. But I think, yeah, just soaking it all in when you get there, there's so many of us that, you know, are going to be first time, you know, being at the Olympics, and I think we're all just going to have to, you know,

bond together right away because you don't have very much time to be together as a team before your first game. So just jelling together as quick as possible and get ready for games. one. Was there like an event you want to sneak over and go watch when you get there? I honestly haven't really thought about it too much. I honestly, I just can't wait to start playing some hockey and playing the games. You know, I think those are just going to be the special moments.

And, you know, you don't know how much time you have outside of, you know, preparing for the games and preparing for your next opponent and practices and stuff like that. We'll see if we can get to anything else. You know, for me, I just want to focus on playing hockey and, you know, the task at hand. What's the intel that you're getting on what the rink looks like and the ice conditions and all that? Are you getting all the reports out of Milan that we are? Yeah, yeah, I'm just trying to follow along on the Internet of what different guys are saying. A buddy of mine who's actually playing over there had one of the practice games on it.

And he said it wasn't too. bad. You know, there was definitely, you know, still had some work to be done, but he said it wasn't as bad as everybody's making it out to be. So that kind of gave me some hope. And it doesn't matter, we're all going to be in the same situation. We're all going to be playing on the same ice surface and in the same, in the same rink. So, you know, we've got to, you know, do whatever we can to win. Absolutely. With Bo Horvats. So it's interesting when you look at, you know, the different club teams that are represented, obviously, you know, there's different players from all over the league, but also junior players, like London Knights alumni,

is there still a connection with the Knights? You know, and as you go over there, Marner's going to be over there. Obviously, he played, and Matthew Kichuk, he's not going to be on your team, but he's a night. There's so many knights throughout the league, and there's going to be Knights represented at the Olympic Games. You know, how much connection do you still have your junior team? Yeah, no, it's awesome.

I mean, it's just like a pro factory over there in London of how many guys have come out of that organization. And I mean, it's a testament what the Hunter brothers have done, you know, to that organization, to the players that have gone through it. It was one of the best times of my life. And, yeah, there's lots of excellent night players that are going to be over there. And Mitchie, including, is one of them.

You know, I got the chance to play with him in his rookie year, and he was unbelievable. He was on my line for a lot of. lot of it and help me score a lot of goals that year. So hopefully we're going to repeat that and in the Olympics we get the opportunity. Absolutely. Well, you still got a couple games until you get over there, but good luck with those and safe travels and we'll be rooting for you. We're looking forward to seeing what you guys got. As you know, the whole country will be behind you. So congrats on making the team. Good luck. Have fun. And thanks for doing us.

Awesome. Thanks, guys. I appreciate having me. You got it. Bo Horv out of the New York Islanders. Yeah, that's... I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is Bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast.