Former Canuck Shane O’Brien says he didn’t like Bo Horvat’s shot at Vancouver fans

On a recent episode of the Missin’ Curfew podcast, former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Shane O’Brien took aim at departed Canucks captain Bo Horvat.

Now a member of the New York Islanders, Horvat took a shot at Canucks fans in a postgame interview with the MSG network last weekend, saying unprompted that the energy of the fans on Long Island is “a lot better than Vancouver.”

O’Brien, who played for the Canucks from 2008 to 2010, didn’t exactly like the sound of what Horvat said.

“I don’t know the day-to-day stuff that happened as an organization. I don’t know how that front office is being run,” O’Brien said. “To me, he took a shot at the fans. And as an ex-player that loved my time in Vancouver, I’m gonna say, Bo, you were the captain of the f—ing Canucks. You didn’t get them in the playoffs.

“You got three f—ing coaches fired, Bo,” O’Brien continued. “When you’re the captain, like it or not, it comes on down on your shoulders. And if you want to say Long Island is better than Vancouver, and this is no disrespect to Long Island — I like their building, I like the team because of Kevin Connolly, I respect everything they’ve done — there is no way it’s a better place to play than Vancouver. When you win and you live in that f—ing city, it’s the best f—ing place in the world to play. The place is rocking, the fans are great, and when you’re not playing great, Bo, yeah, they’re gonna throw f—ing jerseys on the f—ing ice.”

Although Horvat later recanted and apologized for what he said, calling it a “heat of the moment thing,” O’Brien didn’t buy it.

“To me, he was backtracking like a motherf—er. Vancouver fans are the best in the league,” O’Brien said. “When you don’t play well, they’re going to give it to you. And that’s their right. But for him to take a shot at the Vancouver fans and the city of Vancouver, come on, Bo. That’s not going to sit well with me, and it’s on you. You didn’t get in the playoffs. You didn’t do s–t when you were there, and I personally think they’re better off without him.”

Horvat and the Islanders are set to do battle against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game 1 of that series is scheduled for Apr. 17 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.