by sportswriter Hu Jiali

BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- For Chinese ice hockey prospect Wang Haoxi, there was perhaps no better way to mark his 18th birthday than a trophy in his hands.

The towering defenseman anchored Beijing to China's national U18 men's ice hockey championship title on Monday, and was named the tournament's Best Defenseman.

"For players born in 2007, this was our last U18 tournament, and I'm happy for everyone," Wang said after the award ceremony.

"It was my first time serving as captain in my career, so I was thrilled. I learned a lot from the coaches, made many new friends, and shared the experience I've gained overseas. There was a bit of intensity in the games, but that's exactly what Chinese ice hockey needs," he added.

Just weeks earlier, Wang was in Los Angeles hearing his name called at the NHL draft. He was selected by the San Jose Sharks with the 33rd overall pick, the highest draft position ever achieved by a Chinese player. For Wang, who left Beijing six years ago, that moment felt "surreal."

Before this summer, only one Chinese player had ever been drafted into the NHL - fellow Beijing native Song Andong, who went 172nd overall in the 2015 draft.

"It's an unreal moment for my family and for ice hockey in China. A dream-come-true," Wang said. "I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home."

Born in Beijing on July 27, 2007, Wang's love for ice hockey began at age four, almost by accident.

"One day I went to watch a kindergarten friend's practice," he recalled. "A few days later, I started training too. At first, the best part was just being on the ice with my best friend. After practice, we'd eat together. That was the purest happiness for me of playing ice hockey."

As Wang grew older and his skills sharpened, that simple joy transformed into something more competitive. By the time he was 12, Wang faced a decision that would change his life: stay in China or move abroad for better training.

He chose the hard road, flying to Toronto in 2019 to pursue his dream.

"Adapting was a long process," he admitted. "The culture was different, and I couldn't understand the jokes my teammates made at first. But ice hockey became my way of connecting with friends. With those overseas experiences, I started to feel like I could be a pro."

"The older I got, the more competitive I became," he added. "I didn't want to lose. I wanted to win every single game. I kept my head down, worked hard, and learned from failures, so I wouldn't repeat the same mistakes. Honestly, the fear of not being good enough pushes me every day to get better."

Now standing 6-foot-6 tall, Wang has become an imposing figure on the blue line. His rare combination of size and skating has scouts buzzing. Days before the 2025 NHL draft, he was listed among the top 10 eligible defensemen.

"I'm a two-way defenseman," he said confidently. "My biggest strength is combining my height with my skating ability. Not many tall guys can skate as well as I do. I believe in myself. I don't care what other people think. Confidence is my secret."

Back home for his last U18 tournament, Wang did more than compete. He led a free ice hockey clinic for children aged six and seven. After practice, the youngsters surrounded their icon for photos.

"I told them this was my first time coaching, but I enjoyed every second with them," Wang said after the clinic. "I wanted them to know that enjoying ice hockey is the most important thing."

Wang has been admitted to Boston University and plans to spend another year in the Ontario Hockey League before moving to NCAA Division I. From there, the path to the NHL is clear, but he knows it won't be easy.

"As a defenseman, I need more time to learn and grow," Wang said. "I want to establish my name in the NHL, become one of the best defensemen on my team, and contribute to Chinese ice hockey. I want children in China to see that a Chinese player can be a star in the NHL." ■