At the age of four, Haoxi Wang attended his first hockey practice in Beijing and was immediately fascinated by the protective equipment worn by the players.
The players seemed like superheroes in their sticks, uniforms, and bulky pads, with their faces concealed by helmet cages. This was prior to the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, a time when hockey was still a relatively niche sport in China and the prospect of reaching the NHL felt like a distant fantasy.
“It was definitely the gear,” recalled the six-foot-five, 215-pound defenseman, known as Simon, during the NHL pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo recently. He noted he`s still growing.
“Something just clicked inside of me, and I just fell in love with the game,” Wang added. “Right away, I told my mom I need to get out there as soon as possible. And I probably went on the ice the next day or so.”
This experience marked the beginning of a significant journey. At age 12, Wang relocated to Toronto and progressed through the junior hockey system, eventually joining the OHL`s Oshawa Generals. Now 17, he is considered a strong candidate for an early to mid-round selection in the upcoming NHL draft in Los Angeles.
“I think this is a dream come true moment for me,” stated Wang, who is ranked 34th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. “If I told myself four or five years ago that I`d be here, at the NHL combine, I`d probably tell myself I`m dreaming.”
But he isn`t dreaming.
Given Wang`s impressive size and skating abilities, he is likely to experience more remarkable moments as he is poised to become only the third Chinese-born player ever selected in the NHL draft, and potentially the highest pick among them.
Short List of Chinese Players Drafted
The first Chinese-born player ever drafted into the NHL was Andong Song, selected 172nd overall by the New York Islanders in 2015. Song did not go on to play professionally after two seasons in the USHL.
Another player, Kevin He, also originally from Beijing, is currently on a promising path towards the NHL. He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team in December.
Kevin He had the benefit of beginning organized hockey at age six after his family relocated to Montreal. In contrast, Wang`s true introduction to competitive play occurred upon his arrival in Toronto, encouraged by a friend who had moved there earlier to pursue hockey.
The move presented a significant culture shock for Wang, who had left his family behind and initially could not speak English.
“I would describe it with the word `courage`,” said Oshawa general manager Roger Hunt. “The only language he knew was hockey. And he wanted to play. And he had the vision at that age to say, `Hey, if I want to do this, I better go there.`”
Wang quickly proved to be a fast learner. Although initially raw, his inherent ability almost immediately drew attention.
Oshawa general manager Roger Hunt`s primary consideration when selecting Wang in the fifth round of the 2023 OHL 16-year-old draft was his eligibility, as he had already committed to Boston University. The NCAA had previously prohibited CHL players from competing collegiately, although this rule was eliminated in November.
OHL Debut with Oshawa
Wang made his debut with the Oshawa Generals in December. Despite finishing with a modest five assists in 53 games on a team that reached the OHL finals (losing to London), Wang demonstrated that he belonged and did not appear out of place.
“I don’t think anybody walking into that arena would have said, ‘Hey, this kid’s only played hockey five years,’” Hunt commented. “He’s got such good feet, he skates so well, his edges, everything.”
Looking ahead to next year, Hunt anticipates Wang taking on a more significant role, potentially becoming Oshawa`s top defenceman. His progress is considered ahead of schedule, partly attributed to the recent NCAA rule change.
According to his agent, John Walters, the initial plan for last season was for Wang to remain in the OJHL, where he was already demonstrating significant potential with four goals and 22 points in 38 games.
Walters stated that it was Wang himself who pushed to make the jump to the OHL, wanting to challenge himself against better competition to accelerate his development.
“I had a couple of NHL teams saying, ‘You should have left him in junior, because there would have been that wonderment about him.’ And I said, ‘But that wouldn’t have made him better,’” Walters explained. “Simon doesn’t care whether he goes in the first, second or third round. He wants to get better. He needed to go challenge himself.”
John Walters became a key figure in Wang`s life early after his arrival in Canada, even having his father drive the player to practices and games. An additional source of support came from Wang’s mother, Willa, who was so inspired by her son’s dedication to hockey that she became involved in developing ice rinks in China and eventually purchased the Ontario Junior Hockey League team where her son had played.
Wang`s current plan is to play in the OHL again next season before transitioning to Boston University, where his older brother completed his postgraduate studies.
“When I was 12, I had a very naive belief in me that I’m going to make it,” he reflected. “But I’m here right now and not taking any moment for granted. I’m still learning, and I might be still behind a lot of guys, but my potential and what I can become as a player, that’s what’s really exciting about me.”
