Josh Ho-Sang

Josh Ho-Sang
Young man wearing hockey jersey and helmet
Ho-Sang with the Islanders in 2017
Born (1996-01-22) January 22, 1996
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 New York Islanders
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL)
NHL Draft 28th overall, 2014
New York Islanders
Playing career 2016–present

Joshua Ho-Sang (born January 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He formerly played junior hockey for the Niagara IceDogs and Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Ho-Sang was selected by the Islanders in the first round (28th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The Toronto Sun described him in June 2014 as a "singular hockey player of immense talent, caught on an island of discourse." He said of himself: "I'm more emotional than most people. That poses a problem for the hockey world. A lot of players are trained to hold their emotions.... I love to dangle. I love to play an offensive game. I love to celebrate when I score."[1]

Early and personal life

Ho-Sang is of Chinese, black Jamaican, Russian-Jewish and Swedish heritage,[2][3] and was born in Toronto, Ontario. His hometown is Thornhill, Ontario, a Toronto suburb.[4] He said he has "always celebrated the Jewish holidays like Chanukah and the High Holidays with family and friends,"[5] as well as Christmas and Easter. When he was 17 years old, Toronto Sun writer Steve Simmons predicted that he "might be better than all" the previous Jewish ice hockey players (which included the then-current Jewish NHL players center Michael Cammalleri, right winger Mike Brown, left winger Eric Nystrom, and centre Jeff Halpern).[6]

His father, Wayne, is a black Jamaican professional tennis player from Kingston, Jamaica, whose grandfather is Chinese from Hong Kong; he was also a member of the reggae band Fujahtive. His business analyst mother Ericka is Jewish and was born in Santiago, Chile, to Russian and Swedish parents.[1][3][7][8][9] His father immigrated to Canada from Jamaica at the age of 10, and his mother immigrated to Canada from Chile at the age of 12.[8][10][11]

His brother Khole is five years his junior.[10] At age 13 in November 2014, Khole was a member of Team Ontario in American football and was slated to play for Canada in the 2015 Snooper Bowl, an international Pop Warner Football competition.[12] As a first degree black belt in taekwondo, he finished second in his category at Nationals in 2014, and was named to Team Ontario and the Canadian national team.[12]

Playing career

Junior

Ho-Sang played for the Minor Midget AAA Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League in 2011–12, and competing against older players had 79 points (31 goals, 48 assists) in 30 games, despite being double-teamed and triple-teamed at times.[5][13][14] Windsor Spitfires general manager and former NHL player Warren Rychel said that Ho-Sang's work when one-on-one against a goaltender was the best he had ever seen.[14]

Ho-Sang was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.[5] He was rated a top prospect.[15]

In December 2012 he played for Team Ontario at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge.[5] In five games, he had three goals and two assists.[5]

Ho-Sang played with the Windsor Spitfires starting in the 2012–13 OHL season. In 2012–13, he was sixth among all OHL rookies with 44 points (14 goals and 30 assists), in 63 games.[16] In 2013–14, he led the Spitfires in scoring with 85 points (32 goals, 53 assists) in 67 games, adding 3 points (1 goal and 2 assists) in four OHL playoff games.[16]

Ho-Sang at 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

He was recognized for his outstanding play when he was chosen to play the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[17] On April 5, 2014, the OHL suspended Ho-Sang for 15 games (later reduced to 6 games) from the start of the 2014–15 OHL season.[18] The suspension was the result of an illegal push from behind by Ho-Sang against 228-pound London Knights' defenceman Zach Bell during their March 27, 2014, Conference quarter-final game, that resulted in Bell breaking his leg; Ho-Sang was originally just given a two-minute minor penalty for holding.[19][20][21][22]

Ho-Sang started the 2014–15 season leading the Spitfires in scoring with 3 goals and 19 points in 11 games.[21] He had 49 goals and 148 points in 141 career regular-season games for the Spitfires.[21] He was traded in November 2014 to the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL for Hayden McCool and three second-round Ontario Hockey League draft picks.[21]

Professional

Ho-Sang was listed at #22 on NHL Central Scouting's list of the top North American skaters eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected in the first round, 28th overall, by the New York Islanders.[23] NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards said: "He handles the puck very well at top speed and sees the ice well. His skating is excellent and his first step is explosive."[24]

Islanders General Manager Garth Snow indicated he was not worried about Ho-Sang fitting in, saying: "He'll fit right in. They shit on me too."[25][26] And: "We get the players that we feel can help us win. [And] we don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks."[27] In October 2014, Ho-Sang and the Islanders agreed to terms on a US$3.4 million three-year, entry-level contract.[28]

Ho-Sang attended the Islanders training camp, before being reassigned to the Spitfires for the 2014–15 season.

Ho-Sang was immediately returned to the OHL as punishment after being late to the first day of Islanders training camp on September 18, 2015. Arthur Staple of Newsday Sports tweeted, "Ho-Sang was late for the first day of #Isles training camp. He's been sent back to Niagara of the OHL. Camp over for him."[29][30]

Ho-Sang wears #66 in honor of Mario Lemieux

Ho-Sang started the 2016–17 season with the Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. On February 28, 2017, Ho-Sang was called up by the Islanders on emergency conditions, but was returned to Bridgeport just a few hours later.[31] Ho-Sang was recalled the following day and made his NHL debut with the Islanders on March 2, 2017 against the Dallas Stars. On March 7, in his fourth NHL game, Ho-Sang scored his first NHL goal to help clinch a 4-1 victory. It was a power play goal in the 1st period against the Edmonton Oilers. The primary assist was from Thomas Hickey and secondary assist from Shane Prince.[32] His first NHL assist came on March 11, 2017 in the second period of a game against the St Louis Blues when he set up Brock Nelson for the Islanders' first goal of the game. His first multi-point game was on March 13 against the Carolina Hurricanes. His first NHL faceoff was on March 18 against the Columbus Blue Jackets when Brock Nelson got thrown out of the face off circle and Ho-Sang stepped in. His first two assist game was October 11, 2017 against the Anaheim Ducks.

2017–18

Ho-sang started the 2017–18 NHL season with the Islanders but was sent down to Bridgeport Sound Tigers on October 25, 2017, after recording four assists in six games.[33] He was recalled on an emergency basis on November 11, 2017.[34] The emergency basis was terminated and changed to a regular recall on November 16, 2017.[35] It was shortlived, however, as he was sent back down to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on December 16, 2017, after recording eight points in 15 games.

Ho-Sang was invited to the Islanders preseason training camp prior to the 2018–19 season but was reassigned to the Sound Tigers on September 24, 2018.[36]

Jersey number

Ho-Sang chose to wear sweater #66 for the Islanders as an homage to Mario Lemieux, who in response to controversy generated by the choice said he had no problem with Ho-Sang wearing the number. Ho-Sang defended his choice, arguing that he did not merely homage Lemieux's on-ice prowess, but also his contributions to the community of Pittsburgh. "He fought and continues to fight for other people," Ho-Sang said. "He thinks outside himself. For me, that's a man worth looking up to. That's why I wear the number. That's the type of guy who's behind that number, and that's what's so inspiring for me...."[37] He is the second player, after Calgary Flames defenceman T. J. Brodie, to wear the number after Lemieux in a regular season game.[37][38] At the start of the 2018-19 NHL pre-season Ho-Sang changed his Islanders jersey number to #26.[39]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Windsor Spitfires OHL 6314304422 —————
2013–14 Windsor Spitfires OHL 6732538544 412310
2014–15 Windsor Spitfires OHL 11316198 —————
2014–15 Niagara IceDogs OHL 4914486238 111151618
2015–16 Niagara IceDogs OHL 6619638244 17620268
2016–17 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 5010263624 —————
2016–17 New York Islanders NHL 21461012 —————
2017–18 New York Islanders NHL 22210122 —————
2017–18 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 508233140 —————
NHL totals 436162214 —————

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Canada Ontario U17 6th 5 3 2 5 0
Junior totals 5 3 2 5 0

Awards and honours

Honours Year
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2014 [40]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Steve Simmons (June 24, 2014). "The curious case of controversial NHL prospect Joshua Ho-Sang," Toronto Sun.
  2. ↑ "Professional Hockey Review: 2014–15; Canadian Hockey League". Jewish Sports Review. 9 (107): 4. January–February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Feschuk, Dave (October 21, 2011). "Feschuk: Toronto teenager 'the elite of the elite'". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Josh Ho-Sang; Niagara IceDogs". ontariohockeyleague.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Jack Borenstein (February 26, 2013). "Joshua takes hockey development in his stride". The Jewish Tribune. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ Hillel Kutler (January 21, 2014). "The greatest oxymoron in U.S. sports? Jews and professional ice hockey; Hockey may have no iconic Jewish athletes like other major sports, but the likely first-round draft pick Joshua Ho-Sang could one day spell a change". Haaretz.
  7. ↑ Dov Ivry (June 16, 2014). "Meet Josh Ho-Sang". The Times of Israel.
  8. 1 2 Craig Custance (June 25, 2014). "NHL – Josh Ho-Sang is ultra-skilled and well rounded, but also frustrating". ESPN.
  9. ↑ Jeff Z. Klein and Allan Kreda (June 28, 2014). "Islanders Take Brash Player, Ignoring Doubts of Other Teams", The New York Times.
  10. 1 2 Bob Duff (November 14, 2014). "Being Josh Ho-Sang means doing the unexpected". The Windsor Star.
  11. ↑ Mike G. Morreale (May 1, 2014). "Joshua Ho-Sang of Windsor Spitfires makes name with flair for dramatic". NHL.com.
  12. 1 2 Bob Duff (November 14, 2014). "Younger Ho-Sang also elite athlete". The Windsor Star.
  13. ↑ "Joshua Ho-Sang". NHL.com.
  14. 1 2 "Spitfires find hidden gem; The Windsor Spitfires were excited to see Thornhill's Josh Ho-Sang slip to No. 5 in last month's Ontario Hockey League Draft," Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. April 19, 2012, The Windsor Star
  15. ↑ Neate Sager (February 27, 2014). "NHL draft tracker: Josh Ho-Sang, Windsor Spitfires". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Spitfires' Ho-Sang signs with Islanders". OHL Network. October 4, 2014.
  17. ↑ Laurence Heinen (January 5, 2014). "Team Orr beats Team Cherry in CHL Top Prospects Game". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  18. ↑ Sager, Neate (May 29, 2014). "NHL draft prospect's Josh Ho-Sang's OHL suspension handled curiously". Yahoo Sports.
  19. ↑ Dave Caldwell (July 11, 2014). "Ho-Sang, Dal Colle Raising Hopes at Islanders Rookie Camp". Wall Street Journal.
  20. ↑ "Ho-Sang suspended 15 games for hit on Knights defenseman". The Windsor Star. April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Video: Spits deal Ho-Sang to IceDogs". The Windsor Star. November 14, 2014.
  22. ↑ Jim Parker (October 15, 2014). "Spits hope for spark with return of Ho-Sang", The Windsor Star.
  23. ↑ "Joshua Ho-Sang promises to answer Islanders' call". NHL.com. July 11, 2016.
  24. ↑ Stephen Leithwood (November 14, 2014). "Spitfires trade Ho-Sang to IceDogs". Niagara this Week.
  25. ↑ "Live updates from the NHL draft". Q.
  26. ↑ "Isles GM Snow has meltdown at draft". NY Daily News.
  27. ↑ "NHL Draft 2014: Panthers' turn on stage a showstopper". Sporting News.
  28. ↑ "Josh Ho-Sang". CapFriendly.com.
  29. ↑ Lewis, Scott (18 September 2015). "Isles GM Snow on Ho-Sang: 'Enough with the bull'". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  30. ↑ "Islanders' Ho-Sang 'embarrassed' after OHL demotion". NHL.com. NHL. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  31. ↑ "Islanders Recall Ho-Sang". NHL.com. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  32. ↑ Canadian Press (March 7, 2017). "Ho-Sang gets first NHL goal as Islanders topple Oilers". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "Islanders forward Josh Ho-Sang reassigned to AHL Bridgeport". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  34. ↑ Associated Press (11 November 2017). "Josh Ho-Sang recalled by Islanders on emergency basis". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  35. ↑ "Josh Ho-Sang's emergency recall terminated, changed to regular recall". sny.tv. SportsNet New York. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  36. ↑ "Ice Chips: Isles send Ho-Sang to minors". tsn.ca. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  37. 1 2 "Mario Lemieux OK with Joshua Ho-Sang wearing No. 66". NHL.com. March 24, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Joshua Ho-Sang says wearing No. 66 'ultimate respect'". NHL.com. March 7, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  39. ↑ Wilkins, Cory (September 8, 2018). "Islanders' Ho-Sang has new jersey number as Lamoriello makes his mark". thescore.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  40. ↑ Jim Parker (January 15, 2014). "Ekblad, Ho-Sang to showcase talents". Windsor Star. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Michael Dal Colle		 New York Islanders first round pick
2014		 Succeeded by
Mathew Barzal
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