Bo Horvat named 14th captain of Canucks

Bo Horvat has officially been named the 14th captain of the Vancouver Canucks.

Horvat was unveiled as the new captain of the Canucks prior to the team’s home opener against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena on Wednesday. There was a special on-ice ceremony that included former Canucks greats Stan Smyl, Todd Bertuzzi, Kirk McLean and the Sedin Twins.

Horvat was presented the captaincy by Henrik Sedin and Orland Kurtenbach. Kurtenbach was the first ever Canucks captain, while Henrik Sedin was the most recent one.

Henrik was captain of the Canucks for eight years from 2010-2018. The Canucks were without a captain last season after the Sedin twins retired at the end of 2017-18.

Prior to the season opener, the Canucks named Horvat, Brandon Sutter, Alex Edler, and Chris Tanev as their leadership group for 2019-20. With Horvat receiving the captaincy, the other three players will be wearing an “A” this season.

It’s the start of a special 50th anniversary season for the Canucks, who played Los Angeles in their first ever home opener in 1970.

The Canucks understandably didn’t want to rush naming a captain after the Sedins retired. They wanted to give it time and let things evolve on their own. It soon became clear that Horvat was their pick.

Horvat, 24, is at the center of a young and exciting core that also includes Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes.

Horvat was selected ninth overall by the Canucks in the 2013 NHL Draft and is heading into his sixth NHL season. Horvat recorded a career-high 27 goals and 61 points in 2018-19 and has scored 20-plus goals in three consecutive seasons .

While Horvat is scoring consistently, it’s his two-way game and strong worth ethic that made him the obvious choice for captain. Horvat plays a 200-foot game and leads by example both on-and-off the ice. He’s a faceoff monster, never afraid to dish out the body and sticks up for his teammates. Horvat possesses the type of drive and strength that wears off on everybody around him.

Horvat’s dad, Tim, talked about the captaincy prior to the home opener against the Kings.

With Henrik gone last season, Horvat wore an ‘A’ and became familiar with talking to the media during some tough times. He told reporters prior to the start of the season that the media practice he got last season was good for him and that he’d be ready to take that next step if the Canucks tapped him for the role.

The Canucks are beginning an exciting new era, but will also be celebrating the past this season. The teams has celebrations planned all season long for the 50th anniversary season, including four ‘Era Series’ nights. The Sedin twins, Alex Burrows and members of the “West Coast Express” are among those who will be honoured this season.

Horvat, Pettersson, Boeser and Hughes form the new young core, but the team has also brought in J.T. Miller, Michael Ferland, Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn this offseason to help try and end their four-year playoff drought.

It’s only fitting Horvat is given the ‘C’ as this new era of Canucks hockey begins.