Bo Horvat will not be going back to the Ontario Hockey League anytime soon after staying with the Vancouver Canucks as a Junior eligible forward, but the rookie may end up going back to the Junior level in late December if the Canucks decide to loan him to Hockey Canada for the World Juniors in Toronto/Montreal for the tournament that begins on Boxing Day. A decision that is sure to become a talking point as Canadians will be eager to see if the Canucks will do them a big favour in sending the talented former London Knights star back to the World Juniors for another quest for a gold medal.

With just over two weeks left until the tournament begins on Boxing Day, head coach Willie Desjardins and general manager Jim Benning have a big decision to make regarding Horvat’s status as well as their need to keep him around for the weeks that the tournament takes place. Horvat has emerged as a very valuable player on the bottom six lines for the Canucks, a young player who can win faceoffs and create offence on the deep Vancouver forward depth chart. That value to the team may make the Canucks unlikely to send Horvat back to a tournament where he would be one of the best players representing his country, but also be risking injury while being absent from the list of options for Desjardins for a few weeks.

Horvat weighed in on the potential of him being sent back for the World Juniors, saying that it is still up in the air and noting that the atmosphere for Team Canada will be high with the tournament on home soil.

“Still up in the air,” Horvat said to the Toronto Sun. “I have not heard anything about it or what is going on. My main goal is to stay here and help this team win, but if I get that opportunity where they want me to represent my country, I will do that as well.

“Being in Montreal and Toronto, it’s going to be awesome. Playing in Sweden last year, we had tons of Canadian fans there. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like here in Toronto and Montreal.”

Horvat also noted that the decision from the team is something that is in the back of his mind, but helping the Canucks compete for first in the Pacific Division makes him also hopeful that he can stay in Vancouver in what is a win-win situation for a young player who is presently enjoying a successful season with Vancouver.

“It’s going to be in the back of your mind, but right now I just want to focus on doing what I can here and helping the team win,” Horvat said. “If they do want to send me to the world junior, I will go. It’s entirely up to them. If I am helping the team win, hopefully I can stay up here.”

There is a chance that the Canucks can send Horvat back for the tournament, but for now there are no signs that indicate that becoming a reality as the Canucks haven’t shown their hand when it comes to what they will do with the situation. Of course Horvat could gain experience being one of the best players on the ice at the tournament, but getting his ice time increased steadily in Vancouver there is going to be a debate on whether NHL experience or a World Junior stint is more valuable to his player development. Once the Canucks make that decision, Horvat’s World Junior status will become a lot clearer.