At the age of four, Haoxi Wang was fascinated by the equipment worn by hockey players during his first practice at an ice rink in Beijing.
The players, hidden behind helmets and pads, seemed like superheroes with sticks. Hockey was a niche sport in China before the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, and playing in the NHL felt like an impossible dream at the time.
Now a 6-foot-5, 215-pound defenseman known as Simon, Wang recalled at the recent NHL pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo that the gear was what initially drew him in.
“Something just clicked inside of me,” Wang said. “I just fell in love with the game right away. I told my mom I needed to get out there as soon as possible, and I was probably on the ice the next day.”
This marked the beginning of a journey that saw Wang move to Toronto at age 12 to pursue hockey. He progressed through the junior ranks, eventually playing for the OHL`s Oshawa Generals. At 17, he is now considered a likely early to mid-round selection in the upcoming NHL draft in Los Angeles.
“This is a dream come true moment for me,” said 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 think I was dreaming.”
But he isn`t dreaming.
Given Wang`s impressive size and skating ability, more incredible moments are likely ahead. He is poised to become just the third Chinese-born player ever selected in the NHL draft, and potentially the highest pick among them.
Chinese Players Drafted in the NHL
Andong Song, selected 172nd overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, holds the distinction of being the first Chinese-born player drafted into the NHL. However, he never played professionally after spending two seasons in the USHL.
Kevin He, also originally from Beijing, appears to be on a clearer path to the NHL. Drafted 109th by the Winnipeg Jets last year, He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team in December.
Kevin He had the advantage of starting organized hockey at age six when his family moved to Montreal. In contrast, Wang`s true introduction to competitive hockey came with his move to Toronto at the encouragement of a friend who had already relocated to pursue the sport.
It was a significant culture shock for Wang, who left his family behind and initially could not speak English.
“Courage would be the word I would use to describe it,” said Oshawa General Manager Roger Hunt. “The only language he knew was hockey, and he wanted to play. He had the vision at that age to say, `Hey, if I want to do this, I better go there.`”
Wang proved to be a remarkably quick learner. Although still raw, his natural ability captured attention almost immediately.
The only initial concern for Hunt 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. This was before the NCAA eliminated its rule in November that previously prohibited CHL players from competing collegiately.
Making His OHL Debut with Oshawa
Wang made his OHL debut with Oshawa in December. Although he recorded a modest five assists in 53 games for a team that reached the OHL finals (losing to London), Wang consistently looked comfortable and did not appear out of place.
“I don’t think anybody watching would have guessed this kid had only played hockey for five years,” Hunt remarked. “He has such good feet, he skates so well, his edges are great — everything.”
Hunt anticipates Wang taking on a significantly larger role next season as one of Oshawa`s top defensemen. He is considered ahead of schedule, partly thanks to the NCAA rule change.
According to his agent, John Walters, the initial plan last season was for Wang to remain in the OJHL, where he was already demonstrating dominance with four goals and 22 points in 38 games.
Walters stated that it was Wang himself who pushed for the move up to the OHL to challenge himself against better competition and accelerate his development.
Walters recounted that some NHL teams suggested keeping him in junior for “wonderment,” but “that wouldn`t have made him better.” He added, “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.”
Walters took Wang under his wing early after his arrival in Canada, with Walters` father often driving the young player to practices and games. An additional unique factor was Wang`s mother, Willa, who was so inspired by her son`s passion for hockey that she became an ice-rink developer in China and eventually purchased the Ontario Junior Hockey League team where her son played.
The current plan for Wang is to play another season in the OHL before potentially making the jump to Boston University, where his older brother completed 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 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.”
