Latest news with #SimonWang
Japan Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Simon Wang becomes highest drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history
The second day of the NHL draft got off to a historical start on Saturday in Los Angeles, as Simon (Haoxi) Wang became the highest drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history when the San Jose Sharks took him with the top selection of the second round, No. 33 overall. "Coming from China, I hope I can inspire a lot of kids coming over," Wang said, expressing an interest in continuing to grow the sport in his home country into the future. Not to be outdone, Australia set its own record when Swedish national — and Australian born — Jakob Ihs Wozniak was selected 55th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the highest an Australian-born player had ever been taken. The Seattle Kraken took Blake Fiddler from the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) at No. 36, continuing a family NHL tradition. His father, Vernon, played in 877 games for the Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils from 2002-17. In a similar vein, the Anaheim Ducks chose Eric Nilson, the son of Marcus Nilson, at No. 45. The elder Nilson skated for 521 career games with the Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames. A day after Pyotr Andreyanov became the first goalkeeper taken in the first round since 2021 (No. 20 to Columbus) and then Joshua Ravensbergen followed him at No. 30 (San Jose), two more goalkeepers were taken in the top 50, making it the first time since 2014 that four goalkeepers went in the top 50. The Carolina Hurricanes selected Semyon Frolov at No. 41, and the Vancouver Canucks picked Aleksei Medvedev at No. 47. Three teams made their first selections of the entire draft in the third round. The Colorado Avalanche nabbed defenseman Francesco Dell'elce at No. 77, the Edmonton Oilers picked right-winger Tommy Lafreniere at No. 83, and the Stars took right-wing Cameron Schmidt at No. 94. The son of Thomas Vanek, Blake Vanek, went to the Ottawa Senators at No. 93. The elder Vanek was a former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres who played in 1,029 career NHL games. The Panthers, the last team to participate, selected their first player in the fourth round, Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, a left-winger who went No. 112 overall. The last player to go off the board in the seventh round, at No. 224, was also taken by Florida, goalkeeper Yegor Medlak from Russia.
The Standard
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Standard
Highest-drafted China-born player in NHL hopes to inspire kids back home
Simon Wang was chosen 33rd overall as the NHL concluded its newly decentralized draft. (AFP)
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Simon Wang goes 33rd overall to Sharks, making history as highest-drafted player born in China
Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6ft 5in defenceman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection. 'It's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,' Wang said. 'Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment … I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.' His real name is Wang Haoxi, but said he planned to go by Simon during his hockey career because 'it's simpler for North Americans'. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player drafted by the NHL, but he knows he won't be the last. Kevin He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year, and Andong Song was chosen 172nd by the New York Islanders in 2015. Simon Wang poses with his mother on the red carpet before the NHL draft in Los Angeles. Photo: AP 'Hopefully one day my record will get broken again,' Wang said. 'Someone will go in the first round, even top 10. I think there will definitely be someone that's going to make a huge impact on the game.'
CTV News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Simon Wang makes history as NHL's highest-drafted Chinese player
Simon Wang speaks to the media after the San Jose Sharks selected the defenceman with the 33rd overall pick at the NHL draft in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Greg Beacham) LOS ANGELES — Simon Wang is still only 17 years old. The journey that brought him to Peacock Theater on Saturday morning had already been long and winding. Then he made history. The San Jose Sharks chose the defenceman from the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals with the first pick of the NHL draft's second round, making the six-foot-six, 222-pound Wang the highest-ever Chinese player selected at No. 33 overall. 'Unreal moment for my family, for hockey (in) China,' Wang said as he sported his new team's teal threads. 'Trying to soak it in.' The teenager started playing hockey in Beijing at age four, but his family decided he needed more competition to develop following conversations with a friend already in Canada. Wang moved to the Toronto area in 2019, and after heading home during the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to Ontario and enrolled in a private school. Wang's mother, Willa, then bought a junior-A team in Brantford, Ont., and relocated it to Nobleton — roughly 125 kilometres away — where her son started to flourish. The two other Chinese-born players drafted to the NHL are 2024 Winnipeg Jets fourth-round pick Kevin He and 2015 New York Islanders sixth-rounder Andong Song. 'I'm just getting started,' said Wang, who's committed to eventually attend Boston University in the NCAA. 'I never really knew this game, how it's supposed to be played, until (age) 14. I'm always the underdog. Always have distance to catch up. I still have hunger in me, still have to drive that I've got to get better every single day. 'That's why I'm probably one of the most unique guys in the draft class.' Wang started this season in junior-A before signing on in the OHL with the Generals, where he put up two assists in 32 games as he continued to grow into his body and learn the sport. Now he's set a new draft benchmark. 'Definitely special,' Wang said. 'I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home, and hopefully one day my record gets broken — someone goes in the first round, maybe top-10. That's probably the ultimate goal for Chinese hockey. 'There'll definitely be someone that is going to make a huge impact on the game.' It could very well be Wang. Decentralized draft The league's first-ever decentralized draft in a non-pandemic scenario — similar to the NFL and NBA, where teams make selections off-site — continued with the Montreal Canadiens trading up to get Alexander Zharovsky at No. 34. The six-foot-one, 163-pound Russian winger had 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points across 45 games for Ufa on his country's junior circuit this past season. The Vancouver Canucks took goaltender Alexei Medvedev of the OHL's London Knights at No. 47. The Russian went 22-8-2 with a .912 save percentage and 2.79 goal-against average for the Memorial Cup champions. The Calgary Flames picked centre Theo Stockselius at No. 54. The six-foot-three, 196-pound centre put up 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists) in 40 games in 2024-25 for Djurgardens' developmental team in Sweden. The Toronto Maple Leafs made their first pick OF the draft with the second round's final selection, taking Tinus Luc Koblar, also out of the Swedish junior league, at No 64. The Norwegian centre had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 43 games for Leksands in 2024-25. The Ottawa Senators made a trade with the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the day when they acquired defenceman Jordan Spence for a third-round pick this year and a 2026 sixth-rounder. The Detroit Red Wings made the day's biggest splash, adding John Gibson via trade from the Anaheim Ducks for fellow goaltender Petr Mrazek, a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026. Saturday's third round saw Vancouver take centre Kieren Dervin (No. 65), Montreal grab centre Hayden Paupanekis (No. 69), and Calgary go with defenceman Maceo Phillips (No. 80) before the Canadiens took blueliner Bryce Pickford (No. 81) and goaltender Arseni Radkov (No. 82). The Edmonton Oilers made their first pick of 2025 at No. 83 with winger Tommy Lafreniere. The Leafs then selected Tyler Hopkins at No. 86. The centre from Campbellville, Ont. — just outside Toronto — grew up a fan of both the team and captain Auston Matthews. 'To wear this jersey, I can't even describe the feeling,' said the 18-year-old. 'That was the ultimate dream.' Winnipeg took centre Owen Martin (No. 92) and Ottawa chose winger Blake Vanek (No. 93). Ottawa opened the fourth round by selecting goaltender Lucas Beckman (No. 97), wingers Dmitri Isayev (No. 149) and Bruno Idzan (No. 181), along with netminder Andrei Trofimov (No. 213). Montreal tabbed centre John Mooney (No. 113) and goaltender Alexis Cournoyer (No. 145). The Canadiens then added a trio of defencemen in Carlos Handel (No. 177), Andrew MacNiel (No. 189) and Maxon Vig (No. 209). Edmonton plucked winger David Lewandowski (No. 117), defenceman Asher Barnett (No. 131), goaltender Daniel Salonen (No. 191) and centre Aiden Park (No. 223). Toronto grabbed winger William Belle (No. 137), winger Harry Nansi (No. 153), defenceman Bruno Idzan (No. 185) and winger Matthew Hlacar (No. 217). Vancouver selected centre Wilson Bjorck (No. 143), winger Gabriel Chiarot (No. 175) and centre Matthew Lansing (No. 207). Calgary picked wingers Ethan Wyttenbach (No. 144) and Aiden Lane (No. 176), defenceman Jakob Leander (No. 208) and winger Yan Matveiko (No. 211). Winnipeg wound up with winger Viktor Klingsell (No. 156), defenceman Edison Engle (No. 188) and winger Jacob Cloutier (No. 220). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. By Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Simon Wang makes history as NHL's highest-drafted Chinese player
LOS ANGELES - Simon Wang is still only 17 years old. The journey that brought him to Peacock Theater on Saturday morning had already been long and winding. Then he made history. The San Jose Sharks chose the defenceman from the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals with the first pick of the NHL draft's second round, making the six-foot-six, 222-pound Wang the highest-ever Chinese player selected at No. 33 overall. 'Unreal moment for my family, for hockey (in) China,' Wang said as he sported his new team's teal threads. 'Trying to soak it in.' The teenager started playing hockey in Beijing at age four, but his family decided he needed more competition to develop following conversations with a friend already in Canada. Wang moved to the Toronto area in 2019, and after heading home during the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to Ontario and enrolled in a private school. Wang's mother, Willa, then bought a junior-A team in Brantford, Ont., and relocated it to Nobleton — roughly 125 kilometres away — where her son started to flourish. The two other Chinese-born players drafted to the NHL are 2024 Winnipeg Jets fourth-round pick Kevin He and 2015 New York Islanders sixth-rounder Andong Song. 'I'm just getting started,' said Wang, who's committed to eventually attend Boston University in the NCAA. 'I never really knew this game, how it's supposed to be played, until (age) 14. I'm always the underdog. Always have distance to catch up. I still have hunger in me, still have to drive that I've got to get better every single day. 'That's why I'm probably one of the most unique guys in the draft class.' Wang started this season in junior-A before signing on in the OHL with the Generals, where he put up two assists in 32 games as he continued to grow into his body and learn the sport. Now he's set a new draft benchmark. 'Definitely special,' Wang said. 'I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home, and hopefully one day my record gets broken — someone goes in the first round, maybe top-10. That's probably the ultimate goal for Chinese hockey. 'There'll definitely be someone that is going to make a huge impact on the game.' It could very well be Wang. DECENTRALIZED DRAFT The league's first-ever decentralized draft in a non-pandemic scenario — similar to the NFL and NBA, where teams make selections off-site — continued with the Montreal Canadiens trading up to get Alexander Zharovsky at No. 34. The six-foot-one, 163-pound Russian winger had 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points across 45 games for Ufa on his country's junior circuit this past season. The Vancouver Canucks took goaltender Alexei Medvedev of the OHL's London Knights at No. 47. The Russian went 22-8-2 with a .912 save percentage and 2.79 goal-against average for the Memorial Cup champions. The Calgary Flames picked centre Theo Stockselius at No. 54. The six-foot-three, 196-pound centre put up 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists) in 40 games in 2024-25 for Djurgardens' developmental team in Sweden. The Toronto Maple Leafs made their first pick OF the draft with the second round's final selection, taking Tinus Luc Koblar, also out of the Swedish junior league, at No 64. The Norwegian centre had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 43 games for Leksands in 2024-25. The Ottawa Senators made a trade with the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the day when they acquired defenceman Jordan Spence for a third-round pick this year and a 2026 sixth-rounder. The Detroit Red Wings made the day's biggest splash, adding John Gibson via trade from the Anaheim Ducks for fellow goaltender Petr Mrazek, a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026. Saturday's third round saw Vancouver take centre Kieren Dervin (No. 65), Montreal grab centre Hayden Paupanekis (No. 69), and Calgary go with defenceman Maceo Phillips (No. 80) before the Canadiens took blueliner Bryce Pickford (No. 81) and goaltender Arseni Radkov (No. 82). The Edmonton Oilers made their first pick of 2025 at No. 83 with winger Tommy Lafreniere. The Leafs then selected Tyler Hopkins at No. 86. The centre from Campbellville, Ont. — just outside Toronto — grew up a fan of both the team and captain Auston Matthews. 'To wear this jersey, I can't even describe the feeling,' said the 18-year-old. 'That was the ultimate dream.' Winnipeg took centre Owen Martin (No. 92) and Ottawa chose winger Blake Vanek (No. 93). Ottawa opened the fourth round by selecting goaltender Lucas Beckman (No. 97), wingers Dmitri Isayev (No. 149) and Bruno Idzan (No. 181), along with netminder Andrei Trofimov (No. 213). Montreal tabbed centre John Mooney (No. 113) and goaltender Alexis Cournoyer (No. 145). The Canadiens then added a trio of defencemen in Carlos Handel (No. 177), Andrew MacNiel (No. 189) and Maxon Vig (No. 209). Edmonton plucked winger David Lewandowski (No. 117), defenceman Asher Barnett (No. 131), goaltender Daniel Salonen (No. 191) and centre Aiden Park (No. 223). Toronto grabbed winger William Belle (No. 137), winger Harry Nansi (No. 153), defenceman Bruno Idzan (No. 185) and winger Matthew Hlacar (No. 217). Vancouver selected centre Wilson Bjorck (No. 143), winger Gabriel Chiarot (No. 175) and centre Matthew Lansing (No. 207). Calgary picked wingers Ethan Wyttenbach (No. 144) and Aiden Lane (No. 176), defenceman Jakob Leander (No. 208) and winger Yan Matveiko (No. 211). Winnipeg wound up with winger Viktor Klingsell (No. 156), defenceman Edison Engle (No. 188) and winger Jacob Cloutier (No. 220). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. Error! 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