East Meadow, NY– Before his first game at UBS Arena as a member of the New York Islanders, Bo Horvat was introduced to a standing ovation.
But as weeks passed, the applause and the praise faded. All the goals and wins that were supposed to arrive with Horvat were as few and far between as he was from his family to start. Even when his wife and two kids eventually joined him, Long Island didn’t feel like home.
“We had moved the whole family across the country, and it definitely wasn’t easy,” Horvat told NYI Hockey Now. “It was just a lot for everybody.”
With the Islanders in the midst of a playoff hunt, the only parts of Long Island that Horvat got to see were the bits between the practice rink and the hotel room where he and his family lived. This summer, the Horvats made it a point to arrive as early as possible to explore their new surroundings before the start of the new season.
“We’re starting to get used to everything,” Horvat said. “A lot goes unnoticed around here. When you come in as a visiting team, you don’t get to really explore Long Island. It’s just such a beautiful place with the beaches and the golf courses. When you actually get to live here with your family, it’s pretty special. We’re lucky to be here.”
The comfort that Horvat has in his surroundings is starting to shine through on the ice. After having a full offseason and training camp for him to get ready, the Islanders hope they get the version of Horvat in 2023 they expected when he was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks.
“I think he’s playing well,” Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. “What I’m noticing is there’s a communication level between him and his linemates and him and the power play. That’s a huge piece of it.”
Whether or not that stays the case come the regular season will depend on how well Horvat and linemate Mathew Barzal perform together.
