New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat and defenseman Noah Dobson will represent Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships, Hockey Canada announced on Thursday.
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Both were highly open to joining Team Canada after the Islanders did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"It's definitely been talked about. I haven't made a decision or anything yet, but it's definitely something to consider, and a pretty big year, Olympic-wise, next year," Horvat said at locker room cleanout day. "I think it'd be a good stepping stone for me to go prove myself and represent my country. And if I do get that opportunity, I'll take it."
Horvat represented Team Canada at the 2014 World Junior U-20 Championships, where he recorded one goal and two assists in seven games. He also represented Canada at the 2018 World Championships, where he won silver, scoring three goals and providing four assists in 10 games.
Dobson recorded one goal in five games during the 2019 World Junior Under-20 Championships.
"It's definitely a thought. I'll use the next day or so to process the options and figure out what's best. But I'm definitely interested, for sure," Dobson said at his end-of-the-season presser. "If I went, it would be my first one. So I don't know exactly what it's like, but I know just the mindset going into is, for me, I only played 70 games this year. My body feels pretty good. Also, with the Olympics coming up, it's an opportunity to represent your country and put yourself in a position to get on the radar going into next season. Just going to the summer, feeling good and hopefully try and win a gold medal."
Horvat and Dobson will join Simon Holmstrom as the Islanders attending this event.
The tournament takes place from May 9 to May 25, with Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark, serving as co-hosts.
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