Latest news with #HaoxiWang
Al Arabiya
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Wang's Journey From Beijing to Canada Sets Him to Become 3rd Chinese-Born Player Picked in NHL Draft
Invited to watch his first hockey practice at an ice rink in Beijing, Haoxi Wang was no different than any impressionable, wide-eyed 4-year-old being fascinated by the equipment the players wore. They resembled superheroes with sticks, uniforms, and bulging pads, their faces hidden behind helmeted cages. This was before the 2022 Beijing Winter Games when hockey was a niche sport in China and the NHL a mere pipe dream. 'It was definitely the gear,' the 6-foot-5, 215-pound – and still growing – defenseman, who goes by Simon, recalled at the NHL pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo earlier this month. '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.' For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. This marked the start of a journey that saw a 12-year-old Wang move to Toronto and work his way up the junior ranks to play for the OHL Oshawa Generals. At 17, he is considered a candidate to be an early to mid-round pick in the NHL draft in Los Angeles this weekend. 'I think this is a dream come true moment for me,' said Wang, ranked 34th on NHL Central Scouting's list of North American skaters. 'If I told myself four, five years ago that I'll be here, the NHL combine, I'd probably tell myself I'm dreaming.' He's not. Based on Wang's size and skating ability, there's likely to be even more pinch-me moments ahead for someone in position to become just the third Chinese-born player – and potentially highest – selected in the NHL draft. Short list of Chinese players drafted: Andong Song, chosen 172nd overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, was the first Chinese-born player drafted. Song never played professionally following two seasons with the USHL's Madison Capitols. Then there's Kevin He, also from Beijing, who is on path to playing in the NHL. Drafted 109th by Winnipeg last year, He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Jets in December. Kevin He had the advantage of playing organized hockey at 6 when his family moved to Montreal. By comparison, Wang's true introduction to the sport competitively came with his arrival in Toronto at the urging of a friend who made the move earlier to pursue hockey. It was a culture shock for Wang, who left his family behind and couldn't speak English. 'I think courage would be the word I would describe it,' Oshawa general manager Roger Hunt said. '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 proved to be a quick study. Though raw, his ability almost immediately caught everyone's attention. The only question for Hunt in selecting Wang in the fifth round of the 2023 OHL 16-year-old draft was his eligibility in having already committed to Boston University. The NCAA previously barred CHL players from competing at the college ranks before eliminating its rule in November. Wang made his debut with Oshawa in December. Though he finished with a modest five assists in 53 games on a team that lost to London in the OHL finals, Wang did not look out of place. 'I don't think anybody would have went into that arena and said, 'Hey, this kid's only played hockey five years,'' Hunt said. 'He's got such good feet, he skates so well, his edges, everything.' Next year, Hunt projects Wang to take on a larger role as Oshawa's top defenseman. Wang is ahead of schedule in part due to the NCAA rule change. The initial plan last season, his agent John Walters said, was to have Wang stay in the OJHL, where he was already showing signs of dominating with four goals and 22 points in 38 games. Walters said it was at Wang's urging to make the jump to OHL to spur his development against better competition. '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 said. '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.' It was Walters who took Wang under his wing early after his arrival in Canada, with Walters' father chauffeuring the player to practices and games. Another benefit was Wang's mother, Willa, who was so inspired by her son's passion for hockey, she became an ice-rink developer in China, and she eventually purchased the Ontario Junior Hockey League team where her son played. The plan for Wang now is to compete in the OHL next season before making the jump to Boston University, where his older brother completed his post-graduate studies. 'When I was 12, I had a very naive belief in me that I'm going to make it,' he said. '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.'
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'I think I'm in love with this sport': Haoxi Wang fell for ice hockey when he was 4, and now at 17, he's a 2025 NHL Draft prospect
(Image via Getty Images: Haoxi "Simon" Wang) Haoxi Wang, who goes by the name 'Simon' in North America, was only four and a half years old when he followed his friend to watch his first ice hockey practice on an ice hockey rink in Beijing. The players looked like superheroes in their uniforms and gear, flying across the ice hockey rink. Wang shared with Adam Kimelman of NHL .com, 'He(Wang's friend) started playing, and he told me this upcoming sport is extremely cool. I went to watch one of his practices, and then I told my mom, I think I'm in love with this sport. I was four and a half at the time.' Thereafter, his love for the sport led him to the 2025 NHL Draft! What happened in between? Let's find out. Haoxi Wang's mother, Willa Wang, built an ice hockey rink for him — mikemorrealeNHL (@mikemorrealeNHL) When Simon's mother found out about his love for hockey, she built an ice hockey rink for him; in fact, that's how her rink-building company started. That is not all - she went on to purchase the Ontario Junior Hockey League team where Haoxi Wang played. Wang played ice hockey defenseman for King Rebellion of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Wang shared with Kimelman, 'When I was 10, she(Willa Wang) saw this upcoming market of hockey and the Winter Olympics in China for 2022 at the time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jusqu'à 70% pris en charge par l'État pour isoler vos murs extérieurs News ecologique Undo She gathered a few partners of her and built a new rink in Beijing. And started to own the hockey club and the figure skating club. And that's when I have all these amazing facilities to train at, when I was a kid, and build a lot of fundamentals and fundamental skills for me when I moved to Canada. ' Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa coach Brad Malone says Haoxi Wang's hockey IQ with or without the puck is very high In Canada, Haoxi Wang played for the Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League. Brad Malone, coach at Oshawa, could not stop praising Wang. He shared with Kimelman, 'You can't teach size. You can't teach his natural ability, his skating ability. I think his hockey IQ, both with and without the puck, is very high. He makes a lot of good decisions and a lot of really good reads. He's a tough defender to beat. He understands the defensive side of the game.' Wang took a while to adjust to OHL, but his coach, Malone, did not see that. 'For me, it was right away. You saw so many good intangibles as a hockey player: his skating, his size, his stick detail, his physicality, his confidence with the puck. Just the way he carried himself.' Central Scouting's Nick Smith calls Haoxi Wang an intriguing kid for the NHL clubs 17-year-old Haoxi 'Simon' Wang is on the roster of 2025-2026 Boston University of the NCAA Division 1. Wang received a 'B' rating on NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch in October 2025. He is projected to be a second-round or third-round 2025 NHL Draft pick. Nick Smith, NHL Central Scouting, shared with Mike G. Morreale of 'We first noticed him last year as this tall, lanky kid who was physical and full of compete. In my first viewing this year, I couldn't believe how smooth he was. He's right up there with the best skaters in the draft, and at 6-foot-5, that's remarkable. You throw in the physicality and compete, and you have a kid who's very intriguing to the NHL clubs. His puck game is improving, and he's putting up some decent numbers.' Back in October 2024, OJHL's King Rebellion head coach Mark Joslin shared with Jim Mason of OJHL Communications, 'It's been crazy. We've had at least 15 to 20 NHL scouts at each of our home games this fall. And Simon had already been interviewed by some of those NHL teams.' Also Read: NHL Hall of Fame 2025: Carey Price, Joe Thornton, P.K. Subban lead a star-studded first-ballot lineup | NHL News - Times of India For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Associated Press
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Wang's journey from Beijing to Canada sets him to become 3rd Chinese-born player picked in NHL draft
Invited to watch his first hockey practice at an ice rink in Beijing, Haoxi Wang was no different than any impressionable, wide-eyed 4-year-old being fascinated by the equipment the players wore. They resembled superheroes with sticks, uniforms and bulging pads, their faces hidden behind helmeted cages. This was before the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, when hockey was a niche sport in China and the NHL a mere pipe dream. 'It was definitely the gear,' the 6-foot-5, 215-pound — and still growing — defenseman who goes by Simon recalled at the NHL pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo earlier this month. '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 marked the start of a journey that saw a 12-year-old Wang move to Toronto and work his way up the junior ranks to play for the OHL Oshawa Generals. At 17, he is considered a candidate to be an early to mid-round pick in the NHL draft in Los Angeles this weekend. 'I think this is a dream come true moment for me,' said Wang, ranked 34th on NHL Central Scouting's list of North American skaters. 'If I told myself four, five years ago that I'll be here, the NHL combine, I'd probably tell myself I'm dreaming.' He's not. Based on Wang's size and skating ability, there's likely to be even more pinch-me moments ahead for someone in position to become just the third Chinese-born player — and potentially highest — selected in the NHL draft. Short list of Chinese players drafted Andong Song, chosen 172nd overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, was the first Chinese-born player drafted. Song never played professionally following two seasons with the USHL's Madison Capitols. Then there's Kevin He, also from Beijing, who is on path to playing in the NHL. Drafted 109th by Winnipeg last year, He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Jets in December. Kevin He had the advantage of playing organized hockey at 6 when his family moved to Montreal. By comparison, Wang's true introduction to the sport competitively came with his arrival in Toronto at the urging of a friend who made the move earlier to pursue hockey. It was a culture shock for Wang, who left his family behind and couldn't speak English. 'I think courage would be the word, I would describe it,' Oshawa general manager Roger Hunt said. '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 proved to be a quick study. Though raw, his ability almost immediately caught everyone's attention. The only question for Hunt in selecting Wang in the fifth round of the 2023 OHL 16-year-old draft was his eligibility in having already committed to Boston University. The NCAA previously barred CHL players from competing at the college ranks before eliminating its rule in November. OHL debut with Oshawa Wang made his debut with Oshawa in December. Though he finished with a modest five assists in 53 games on a team that lost to London in the OHL finals, Wang did not look out of place. 'I don't think anybody would have went into that arena and said, 'Hey, this kid's only played hockey five years,'' Hunt said. 'He's got such good feet, he skates so well, his edges, everything.' Next year, Hunt projects Wang to take on a larger role as Oshawa's top defenseman. Wang is ahead of schedule, in part due to the NCAA rule change. The initial plan last season, his agent John Walters said, was to have Wang stay in the OJHL, where he was already showing signs of dominating with four goals and 22 points in 38 games. Walters said it was at Wang's urging to make the jump to OHL to spur his development against better competition. '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 said. '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.' It was Walters who took Wang under his wing early after his arrival in Canada, with Walters' father chauffeuring the player to practices and games. Another benefit was Wang's mother, Willa, who was so inspired by her son's passion for hockey, she became an ice-rink developer in China and she eventually purchased the Ontario Junior Hockey League team where her son played. The plan for Wang now is to compete in the OHL next season before making the jump to Boston University, where his older brother completed his post-graduate studies. 'When I was 12, I had a very naive belief in me that I'm going to make it,' he said. '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.' ___ AP NHL:
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
WME Sports signs defenseman Haoxi Wang, China's rising hockey star with NHL dreams
Haoxi Wang (via X) Chinese defenseman Haoxi Simon Wang is one step closer to global fame as WME Sports officially inks the 17-year-old for marketing and commercial representation. The Beijing-born skater is rated as one of the best ice hockey prospects in China and should be taken in the later first or early second round of the 2025 NHL Draft, to be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. WME Sports to raise Haoxi Wang 's profile as 2025 NHL Draft approaches Haoxi Wang, a standout talent emerging from China's small but determined hockey scene, has been signed by WME Sports in a move that could shape the next phase of his young career. While most attention is on his draft status for the 2025 NHL Draft, WME's focus will be to grow Haoxi Wang's commercial appeal globally—especially across North America and China. Haoxi Wang's signing marks a milestone, as he becomes the first Chinese ice hockey player to sign with WME's expanding hockey division. The agency seeks to establish his presence far beyond the ice—into fashion, entertainment, and international media. HAOXI WANG's Rise to Fame in 2025 - The Next 'Big' Thing in the OHL? With a cross-continental support team behind him, Wang is likely to be a marketing trailblazer for Chinese hockey players. If he gets an NHL roster spot, he'd be the first Chinese-born player in the league—a cultural and athletic milestone. Though his playing deals may still be negotiated by another agency, WME signing an indication of an even greater goal: turning Wang into an across-sport face. Haoxi Wang first stepped onto North American ice in 2019, skating in the Greater Ontario Hockey League. Currently, left-wing Kevin He—currently suiting up for the Niagara IceDogs—is the top-drafted Chinese-born NHLer after he was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2024 draft. Expected to break that record, Wang will be taking on a new legacy for pro hockey's Chinese players. Also read: 'ARE YOU INSANE?': NHL fans blast Florida Panthers over outrageous Game 6 ticket prices Haoxi Wang's signing with WME Sports is more than an auspicious move for his professional future—it's a watershed moment for Chinese representation in hockey. As the 2025 NHL Draft creeps around the corner, everyone will be watching this young Beijing defenseman. With skill and strategic support behind him, Wang is set not only to get drafted but also to become a face of hockey's international future.
