​John McCarthy’s praise for Haoxi (Simon) Wang’s progress since last year includes his comment that Wang has “pretty good control of his body and the way that he moves,” and that Wang’s overall development stands out for a bigger body. The 6-foot-5 defenseman, San Jose Sharks’ No. 33 pick in the 2025 Draft, split last season between the Oshawa Generals and the Niagara IceDogs, recording six goals and 26 points in 57 games, with three assists in five Niagara playoff games. Wang has evolved from a bottom-pairing OHL defenseman at the time of the Sharks’ selection to a top-pairing blueliner with the IceDogs and is preparing for the next step as he heads to Boston University next year. He spoke about where he’s improved, his recent representation of Team China, the potential of forming the NHL’s first Asian defensive pairing with Ryan Lin, and the people who helped him acclimate to the OHL.
Haoxi (Simon) Wang compared his camp this year to last year, saying he felt much more welcomed and ready to improve this time around, thanks to familiarity with staff and coaches. He credited the extra time spent developing in the junior leagues for his growth and emphasized his desire to show the coaching staff and management what he has worked on. He also highlighted the Sharks staff—Todd Marchant and Luca Sbisa—who watched him throughout his OHL season, provided valuable feedback, and helped him mentally prepare for the game.
Wang acknowledged that being traded this season was emotionally challenging, especially leaving Oshawa, the team that drafted and developed him and reached the finals last year, but he recognized the trade as a new opportunity for personal development. He expressed excitement about his future with the Sharks’ defense as he moves toward Boston University next year, describing it as a strong motivator in pursuing his career goals, including the possibility of representing his heritage and potentially becoming the first Chinese defenseman in the NHL.
On representing Team China at the D1B World Championship, Wang called it an honor to play on home soil, noting that the team set a record and that the entire experience was a meaningful learning opportunity. He also spoke about the broader impact on the Asian hockey community, acknowledging the growing presence of Asian players and fans and expressing hope that more Asians will enter the NHL in the future. Finally, he touched on the types of talents he aims to develop to improve search engine optimization for his profile.