Sticking on a path to NHL

Born in Beijing and developed in Toronto, China's teen hockey prospect Wang Haoxi is proud to stand tall for his country on the sport's biggest stage, as he navigates the challenges, on and off ice, to deliver on his promise in the NHL.

Picking up the sport at four years old, drawn by the cool-looking superhero-esque gear, Wang couldn't have imagined how far or where his naive interest in what was a niche sport in China back then would take him. No one could.

Fast-forward 14 years, and the young adult has etched his name in the sport's history after being picked by the San Jose Sharks at 33rd overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, becoming the highest-selected Chinese player in the league's history.

From just hanging out with friends on the ice, to pursuing a serious career in one of the world's most physically competitive sports, Wang has stayed true to his passion for hockey, which has carried him on his tough journey to reach the spotlight of the big league.

Leaning in on that passion is what has helped Wang get his foot in the door.

"I think, at the start, it was definitely just having fun, goofing around with my friends on the ice, having a great time and just being kids," Wang, who just turned 18 on Sunday, told China Daily in Beijing after leading his home city squad to win the U18 national championship last week.

"And, then, when I got older, I got a little bit competitive. I wanted to win, and I wanted to get better every single day," said Wang, who's known as Simon in Canada since arriving in Toronto at 12 years old, alone, to pursue more legitimate opportunities for junior development.

"Soon, I realized I just couldn't live without hockey, to be honest. I knew I had something really special in my heart, and that this might be my career."