Simon Wang was proud to become the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him yesterday with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft.
The big defenseman is also confident he won't hold that distinction for long.
"t's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,” said the 17-year-old Wang. “Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment ... I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.”
The 1.95-meter blueliner was chosen 33rd overall as the NHL concluded its newly decentralized draft with the final six rounds at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12 to further the career of a kid who attended the NHL China Games and became fascinated with the steadily-growing sport in China.
Wang is only the third Chinese-born player ever drafted by the NHL. 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.
"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.”
His real name is Wang Haoxi, but he plans to go by Simon during his hockey career because “it’s simpler for North Americans,” he said.
Wang had little draft buzz until the start of last season. He soon joined the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals and got even more exposure during their playoff run.
"Seeing so many scouts in the Junior A barn, it just started hitting me,” Wang said. “I worked so hard for this. I deserve to be here.”
Wang walked the red carpet in Los Angeles at the weekend with his mother, who propelled his career - and even bought and moved his former junior team. He also got his first chance in nearly two years to see his brother, who studied at Boston University, where Wang might play college hockey starting in 2026.
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