Upon being invited to observe his first hockey practice at a Beijing ice rink, four-year-old Haoxi Wang, like any wide-eyed youngster, was utterly fascinated by the protective equipment worn by the players. To him, they looked like superheroes adorned with sticks, uniforms, and bulky pads, their faces concealed behind helmet cages. This was years before the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, a time when hockey was a lesser-known sport in China, and playing in the NHL was merely an ambitious dream.
“It was definitely the gear,” recounted the impressive six-foot-five, 215-pound defenceman, who is known by the name Simon, during the NHL pre-draft scouting combine held recently in Buffalo.
“Something just clicked inside of me, and I simply fell head over heels for the game,” Wang added. “Immediately, I told my mom I had to get onto the ice as quickly as possible. And I believe I was probably on the ice the very next day.”
This moment marked the start of an extraordinary journey that led a 12-year-old Wang to move to Toronto and progressively ascend through the junior hockey ranks, eventually joining the OHL`s Oshawa Generals. At 17, he is now seen as a strong candidate to be selected in the early to mid-rounds of the NHL draft scheduled for this weekend in Los Angeles.
“I feel like this is a moment where a dream is truly coming true for me,” expressed Wang, who holds the 34th position on NHL Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters. “If I were to tell myself four or five years ago that I would be standing here, at the NHL combine, I would most likely have told myself I must be dreaming.”
But it is indeed reality.
Given Wang’s imposing physical size and impressive skating ability, it is highly probable that even more “pinch-me” moments await him. He is poised to potentially become just the third player born in China — and possibly the highest draft pick among them — ever selected in the NHL draft.
Previous Chinese Players Drafted into the NHL
Andong Song, picked 172nd overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, holds the distinction of being the first Chinese-born player drafted into the NHL. However, Song never proceeded to play professionally following his two seasons with the USHL`s Madison Capitols.
Following him is Kevin He, also a native of Beijing, who is on a clearer path towards potentially playing in the NHL. Selected 109th by the Winnipeg Jets last year, He solidified his future by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the team in December.
Kevin He had the advantage of beginning organized hockey at the age of six when his family relocated to Montreal. In contrast, Wang’s genuine introduction to competitive play occurred upon his arrival in Toronto, encouraged by a friend who had made a similar move earlier specifically for hockey.
For Wang, leaving his family behind and facing the challenge of not speaking English upon his arrival constituted a significant culture shock.
“I believe the word `courage` would be the most fitting to describe it,” commented Oshawa general manager Roger Hunt. “The only language he was fluent in was hockey. And his desire to play was so strong. He possessed the remarkable vision, even at that young age, to understand that if he wanted to pursue this, he needed to go where the opportunities were.”
Wang demonstrated an impressive ability to learn and adapt quickly. Despite his relative rawness compared to peers, his natural talent was almost immediately apparent to everyone.
The only hesitation for Hunt when selecting Wang in the fifth round of the 2023 OHL 16-year-old draft was initially his eligibility, as he had already committed to Boston University. The NCAA previously had rules that barred players from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) from competing at the college level, although this rule was notably eliminated in November.
Wang`s OHL Debut with Oshawa Generals
Wang made his first appearance for Oshawa in December. Although he finished the season with a modest five assists over 53 games on a team that advanced to the OHL finals before losing to London, Wang consistently demonstrated that he belonged and was not out of place at that level.
“I sincerely doubt that anyone in the arena watching him would have guessed, `Hey, this kid has only been playing hockey competitively for five years,`” Hunt remarked. “He moves his feet so exceptionally well, he skates with such grace, his edges are fantastic — everything about his movement.”
Looking ahead to next season, Hunt anticipates Wang stepping into a more prominent role, potentially as one of Oshawa`s top defencemen. Wang’s rapid progression is partly credited to the recent NCAA rule change.
His agent, John Walters, stated that the original plan for last season was for Wang to remain in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), where he was already showing signs of becoming a dominant player, having recorded four goals and 22 points in 38 games.
Walters explained that it was Wang himself who was eager to make the leap to the OHL, driven by a desire to challenge himself against tougher competition and accelerate his development.
“I encountered a few NHL teams who suggested, `You perhaps should have allowed him to stay in junior longer, maintaining a bit of mystery about him,`” Walters recalled. “And my response was, `But that approach wouldn`t have contributed to his improvement.` Simon`s primary focus isn`t on whether he gets drafted in the first, second, or third round. His sole priority is to continually improve. He needed to place himself in a challenging environment.”
Walters took Wang under his wing relatively early after his move to Canada, with Walters’ own father frequently assisting with transporting the young player to practices and games. Another significant source of support and inspiration came from Wang’s mother, Willa. Deeply motivated by her son`s passion for hockey, she went on to become an ice-rink developer in China and eventually acquired the Ontario Junior Hockey League team for which her son had played.
Wang’s current plan involves competing in the OHL for one more season before transitioning to Boston University, following in the footsteps of his older brother, who completed his postgraduate studies there.
“When I was 12, I held a very simple, perhaps naive, belief within me that I was going to succeed,” he shared. “But being here now, I am truly appreciating every single moment and not taking anything for granted. I recognize that I am still learning, and I might still be behind many other players in certain aspects, but my inherent potential and the player I have the capacity to become — that’s what is genuinely exciting about my journey.”
Tristan Blackwood