‘I can be a complete game wrecker’ Winnipegger Horvath embracing rusher role on national men’s flag team By: Joshua Frey-Sam Posted: 5:03 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 26, 2026

This time it feels real for Domenic Horvath.

When the 26-year-old was selected to the Canadian men’s flag football roster for the first time last year, a piece of him felt prideful about what he had accomplished — and a bigger part felt somewhat slighted when he was quickly named an alternate for the team, which prevented him from travelling to games with the active roster.

That was one of many humbling moments in the last 12 months for the Winnipegger, who believes he is one of the top flag players in the country.

“I do feel like last year hurt the ego a little bit, because I never got a fair shot, and I know this year they see what I can do now that they’ve given me the shot to perform,” Horvath said Tuesday. “So I’m feeling good about that.”

Last week, Horvath was named to Team Canada for the second consecutive year, following an impressive outing at an intense selection camp held at Princess Auto Stadium last month.

The four-day evaluation saw 30 of the top players from across the country battle for 16 spots in front of Football Canada’s high-performance staff, led by former Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice.

Horvath was one of two rushers — along with Montreal’s Philippe Pharand — and the lone Manitoban to make the top 16, who will represent Canada at the IFAF Men’s Flag Football World Championship in Dusseldorf, Germany, in August.

The Worlds mark the first chance for national programs to secure their qualification toward flag football’s historic debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. There will be a pair of qualification spots up for grabs in both the men’s and women’s divisions in Germany.

“The last calendar year has been the craziest year of my life,” Horvath said.

“This year they see what I can do now that they’ve given me the shot to perform.”

Last year, Horvath reached the top-50 selection camp while playing on offence as a centre — his preferred position.

After one day, the coaching staff put him at defensive back. On the final day, he was moved to rusher, which required him to swallow a slice of humble pie and embrace the idea that he could showcase a versatile skill set.

Last month, he tried out all four days exclusively as a rusher, and it was evident that he had made strides in that facet as one of the camp’s clear standouts.

While Horvath feels he can offer even more as a defender or as an offensive weapon, he’s truly taken his duties as a rusher in stride.

“It obviously hurts because I know what I can do offensively, but I’m keeping my head down, and I’m battling for that spot — whatever’s gonna give me the best chance to be on this team and make an impact on the team. They see it as rushing, and I know I’m just getting back into rushing, and I know I’m starting to get comfortable in it, so I’m starting to make an impact,’” he said.

“Personally, I feel — and I think they feel that — I’ve been absolutely crushing it.”

As it stands, Horvath is in the pole position to be Canada’s starting rusher at the World Championship, but that will be officially determined next month after the team convenes for training camp in Chula Vista, Calif.

Horvath will also have an opportunity to further prove he’s deserving when Team Canada travels to China for a pair of friendlies against the Chinese and Austrian national teams in July.

With more time to show what he can do in a game, Horvath said his standing on the team feels more substantive.

“Absolutely, because now it’s not, ‘Dom, you’re an alternate, you’re a practice player.’ It’s, ‘You’re in contention for a starting spot,’” he said.

“It feels more real now that I’m going to all these big tournaments, going to China, travelling the world with the team, and all I have to do is beat out one guy to go to the World Championships, and hopefully keep that starting spot going into future tournaments, and hopefully the Olympics.”

Horvath said flag, which is played on a much smaller field — and as a result, is faster than tackle football in some ways — is a much different game than tackle, but it fits his athletic skill set better.

“You’ve got to be super elusive and quick, so that’s always been my game.”

At 6-1, 170 pounds, his lanky yet flexible frame allows him to perform difficult athletic feats like dipping and swivelling his hips while running at full speed to avoid his flag from being pulled.

“I’ve never been a bigger guy, I’ve never been the big, strong guy. I’ve always been super skinny, but athletic and fast,” Horvath said. “So, I think flag really tailors to my ability, because it’s a game built off speed and a game where you have to be quick twitch, you’ve got to be super elusive and quick, so that’s always been my game.”

His job as a rusher is a rather thankless position, but he’s just as important as the other players on the field. The rusher lines up seven yards off the ball and attacks the quarterback at the snap of the ball, but coaches have begun to get creative with the position, using the rusher as a chess piece that can be moved around the field to help disrupt routes.

“That’s what I really enjoy about rushing,” Horvath said. “I can be a complete game wrecker.”

For now, Horvath is the only Manitoban, but there is a chance that former Manitoba Bisons quarterback — and current Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver — Jackson Tachinski, who has drawn rave reviews from national team coaches, will be added later if he isn’t retained by the Bombers out of training camp.

Horvath said it’s easy to let his mind wander to the possibility of playing in the Olympics in two years, but he also understands that there is a long way to go until then.

“I try to stay in the moment right now. Obviously, you can’t deny having the ability to potentially play in the Olympics, which is something I never thought I’d ever even have the experience to think about,” he said.

“Flag football being (in the Olympics), it’s crazy, but I try not to think about it too much, because one: it’s two years away, so I try not to get there. And two: we still have to qualify for it.”

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