Bo Horvat – London Knights- 2013 NHL Draft

Going into the 2011 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Horvat was one of our personal favorites at HockeyProspect.com. He combined tremendous work ethic, with the ability to post big numbers and make everyone on the ice better. The London Knights took notice and selected the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs’ forward 9th Overall. Horvat is a leader, who leads with both his maturity and work ethic. There was little question in our minds he would be an effective 16 year old for the Knights. With the depth at forward, it was expected he would play in the bottom six, and he thrived in this role.

Watching Horvat play, you may find it surprising he only had four minor penalties in 64 games while playing the style he plays. Bo is a player who exemplifies work ethic every single shift. He works hard, finishes his checks and wins battles along the walls. He is a capable two-way player, who takes pride in his defensive game and can be a consistent penalty killer. Bo has good offensive skills and while he doesn’t have a single standout skill, what Horvat does is make everyone on the ice better. He has good hockey sense and awareness of what to do in different situations in the offensive zone and shows an equal willingness to shoot or pass, depending on the situation. Horvat was named the captain for Team Ontario in the World U17 Challenge and is a player who could certainly become a captain at the OHL level, as well as every level he ends up playing. Horvat has remained in the shadows during his rookie season, but is definitely a player we feel will break out in 2012-2013.