Beijing teen becomes the highest drafted Chinese player in NHL history

Haoxi “Simon” Wang, a 17-year-old defenseman from Beijing, became the highest drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history when the San Jose Sharks selected him 33rd overall in Los Angeles on June 28.

Wang was picked with the first selection of the second round, becoming only the third China-born player to be drafted, following Andong Song, who went 172nd in 2015, and Kevin He, selected 109th in 2024.

“It’s an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China … I hope I’ve inspired a lot of kids back home,” Wang said at the draft. He also expressed hope that his record would be broken soon, with future Chinese players reaching the first round or even the top 10.

Born July 27, 2007, Wang started skating at age 4 in Beijing. At 12, he moved to Toronto to further his hockey development. He recorded 22 points in 38 games with King Rebellion in the Ontario Junior Hockey League before joining the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League in December. With Oshawa, he registered two assists in 32 regular-season games and added three more during a 21-game playoff run.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing about 220 pounds, Wang has drawn praise from scouts for his skating and two-way potential. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 34th among North American skaters.

Although Wang was drafted by the Sharks, he will continue with the Oshawa Generals before joining Boston University in the 2026-27 season. NHL teams often draft prospects who plan to play college hockey, allowing them to continue developing while the team retains their rights. The Sharks plan to monitor his development and prepare him for an eventual NHL debut.