Meet Simon Wang, The OJHL Defenseman NHL Scouts Are Flocking To See

The most popular ticket within the OJHL this yr? The King Insurrection. The explanation? Towering defenseman Simon Wang (who can be listed as Haoxi Wang), a 6-foot-6, 210-pound prospect for the 2025 NHL draft who has scouts popping out in droves to look at him.

In keeping with Insurrection coach Mark Joslin, the Insurrection have counted greater than 20 NHL scouts per house sport to this point this season, and having attended King’s current sport towards the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, I can attest to that.

Wang, a Boston College commit, is a uncooked expertise whose upside was on full show within the third interval of that sport when he picked up the puck in his personal zone and marched it down the ice, weaving previous Toronto gamers earlier than getting into the offensive zone and getting the higher of an enormous collision with an opponent.

Born in China, Wang began taking part in hockey when he was four-and-a-half. He got here to Canada when he was 12 and has performed right here ever since, save for a pandemic yr when he went again to China. Not solely does he have a wonderful body to construct on, however he is additionally an important skater, which is why NHL groups are so intrigued by the teenager. And provided that he can nonetheless add a bunch of power and muscle to his body, the upside is beguiling.

“I used to be all the time tall as a child,” Wang mentioned. “I used to be rising two or three inches a yr. After I first received to Canada, my skating was fairly sloppy as a result of my physique hadn’t stuffed in but. However as I grew older and began understanding, getting my core and agility going…my ft have all the time been good, however the skating used to look sluggish. I began figuring it out this summer season and I believe it should solely get higher.”

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With 10 factors by 14 video games with King, Wang has proven he can create – however he also can destroy with a crunching bodily sport. To that finish, his favourite NHLers to look at embrace Victor Hedman (size-wise, an apparent comparable) and Miro Heiskanen, but in addition a comparatively new expertise.

“The participant that matches me essentially the most proper now could be Mason Lohrei from the Boston Bruins,” he mentioned. “He performs a troublesome sport and a ability sport on the identical time, so I wish to play like him.”

There is a risk Wang might be in the identical metropolis as Lohrei subsequent yr, as proper now the plan is to affix the Terriers for 2025-26 – although that would all the time be pushed again a yr, relying on what’s finest for Wang’s growth. His USHL rights are owned by the Lincoln Stars, and he might get into some video games with them throughout this season, which might be an important problem for the teenager (Oshawa owns his main junior rights). Both method, Wang is aware of Boston U is finally the place for him.

“My brother truly went to BU for his masters’ diploma, so I knew the campus was good,” he mentioned. “I went there for a hockey camp a pair years in the past and I went for a go to and the services have been phenomenal. I used to be bought. Boston is such a pleasant metropolis. My brother additionally went to highschool there so I have been there lots.”

Wang’s household definitely has a world aptitude, together with his mother going between right here and China. Within the interim, Wang has lived on his personal for stretches. And the way does his place look?

“It is slightly bit messy, not gonna lie,” he mentioned with a smile. “She comes again to make the home appear to be house once more, and it is all the time good to have her again.”

The child has a robust help system, with household advisor John Walters operating level. Wang has an important mindset, and it is clear he has his priorities straight on the subject of his hockey profession – even with an quantity of consideration on him that’s uncommon for an OJHL prospect.

“It is clearly a good time and loads of strain, however I simply wish to play my sport,” he mentioned. “I am going again to my fundamentals – stickhandling and capturing each morning earlier than observe, getting the main points dialed in. I’ve a pocket book the place I write down each purpose I wish to obtain in a day and if I do not, I attempt to do it once more the following day. If I follow attaining the little objectives, the large objectives will come.”

Pleased with his Chinese language roots, Wang mentioned that when his taking part in days are completed, he would love to provide again to the hockey neighborhood in China by educating the following technology. By that point, he might be regaling the youngsters with tales of an extended NHL profession. However as for now, he is simply getting began…

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