Haoxi Wang Off To A Great Start In OHL | Which Other Prospects Are Off To Hot Starts?

Haoxi Wang Off To A Great Start In OHL | Which Other Prospects Are Off To Hot Starts?

We dive into the prospect brief to look at some of the San Jose Sharks uh prospects who are off to great starts. You’re Locked on Sharks, your daily podcast on the San Jose Sharks, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to Locked on Sharks, the premier hockey podcast covering your favorite team in the Bay Area. My name is JD Young, caretaker at the Reef, also the co-host of Locked On NHL. I want to thank you for making Locked on Sharks your first listen, proudly part of the Lock Network. We cover your team every day. And if you want to be every day, all you have to do just follow along wherever you get podcast. And of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. And today we’re going to be diving into the prospect reef to look at Hi Wong. Uh we’re also be talking about Ma Max Heisy. Uh and then a couple other players off to good starts in Christian Kersh. Uh and then of course Eric Pole Camp. So we’re going to be discussing these guys looking at how their games have evolved uh as they hope to make impacts in San Jose at some point. So before we get to all that, do want to let you guys know that today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. So, um, just as a gentle reminder, uh, I cannot show clips of said players, especially on YouTube, because I don’t want to get in trouble. Also, if you’re an audio listener, which a good chunk of you guys are audio listeners, it wouldn’t make for very fun podcast if I’m just explaining uh what’s happening on a clip, right? So, if you just you here’s how she Wong doing this thing and like it just doesn’t work. So, and again, this is a podcast format. That’s why we don’t have like uh video breakdowns on the podcast. So, uh, cuz, yeah, I don’t own the rights to it. We don’t have rights from, uh, the OHL or, you know, whomever, like, uh, to to be able to put up clicks. So, we’re not going to do that cuz I kind of want to, uh, keep my channel going. Uh, I’ve put a lot of work into it. So, or some work into it, depending on some people. Um, but we got to start with with Hosi Wong, who of course was the second uh, round pick by the San Jose Sharks this year. Um, Wong, the 6’6, of course, 223 pounds, left-handed defenseman, picked 33rd overall in this year’s draft. Uh, while these points may not sound overwhelming, uh, compared to what we saw from Wong last year, it’s a massive, massive jump. So, in five games so far with the Asha Generals this year, zero goals, four assists with 18 shots on goal. again like you know I mean that that’s a pretty good still pretty good clip at you know 08 points per game uh for a defenseman uh like that’s nothing to sneeze at uh in the OHL right it’s not Sam Dickinson putting up a bajillion points etc etc but just a reminder last year uh played 32 games in the OHL he had two points and he had about 30 some odd shots during that time. So, Wong has like he’s already doubled his point total from last year uh in five games this year. And watching him like you just see he just looks like a completely different player in a good way. In a good way. Uh from my like I don’t want you to get the point like oh my gosh what like did he turn into you know yes how Wong small offensive defenseman that is what he is now. No. um he just looks like a much more confident player and with his puck touches and that that’s a big big step and um just how much watching like you know I watched one of his first games in the OL to watching one of his most recent games in the OHL which again like he didn’t step like he didn’t start playing in the OL until I think it was like January or February. um he jumped in in the middle of the season because of the new uh you know transfer rules with o with the CHL and NCAA. Um so he didn’t jump in until kind of the middle of the season there. And so I mean this is all within the same calendar year that we were seeing this growth from him, right? And this is why we talk about him being such a raw prospect is that there is so much kind of untapped growth where you could see him kind of making these giant leaps and bounds when it comes to his development because he just hasn’t played against this type of competition and he’s getting used to it now. I’m not to say Hi Wong is like a perfect player right now. There’s still a lot of stuff he needs to work on, but it is good to see the confidence growing. last year when he got the puck, you know, he he was very almost timid uh and he was looking to not make mistakes, right? And which is okay, but you want to see uh uh our our good friend Hattie uh who’s you comes on the show, you know, during the the draft season always talks about testing your creativity um in these junior leagues and kind of learning these creativity. That way you’re not trying to get to the NHL and try to figure out how to be creative, right? Um, and you see Wong doing that this year and his ability like to jump into the play uh more. He’s more willing to kind of make those, you know, it’s like risk, but like that that’s all part of the the the game of being a defenseman, right? Is kind of that risk management. Do I jump into play here? Do I sit back? Stuff like that. you’re just seeing him taking, you know, making smart decisions, but being more involved offensively and it’s not just four on five when they’re in the offensive zone that it kind of looked like last year where the the puck would just never come to him or when he did get the puck, it’s quickly off his stick going to someone else. And that that’s just a a confidence thing, right? you’re seeing him be a much more confident player now um than than what we saw last year. And these are resulting in these positive you know production here. Again, I don’t think Wong is going to come in and be like uh you know an offensive-minded defenseman. That’s not why the Sharks drafted him, right? They want him to be a shutdown defenseman. uh they want or a two-way defenseman, but mostly focusing on the defensive zone. And you can see the growth in the defensive zone, too, as again as he’s getting smarter and he’s learning these, you know, just getting those reps. Wong just he looks like just a more confident player. And this is this is great great for for my career in this San Jose Sharks. I know a lot of people kind of poo poo the pick, right? uh because especially with some of the the players available on the board um at 33, right? I know like Blake Fidler was, you know, I like Blake Fiddler as well, but like the the jump that Wong has had from the spring to now, it’s it’s pretty massive. Like it is it is night and day watching this player and like he’s taking more shots on goal. clearly taking more shots on goal. Clear like willing to let it rip and like you see he’s got a pretty solid shot and as he continues to kind of get stronger and fill out his frame. I know he’s 6’6 220 lbs. How much more? Like you can see that he’s he has the potential to have a really strong shot at some point, but he’s he’s being really smart with how he utilizes it, you know, and trying to just shoot the puck more and not be so uh like I said, so timid and careful with what he does. So still like still gets caught up with some mistakes, right? And and that is all part of that rawness that we talk about of him just not having enough reps at this competition at this level. And I I still think for him like he he’s uh you know expected to go to uh Boston next year in the NCAA. I still think that that’s a great decision because I wouldn’t be surprised by the OHL by then. Like he’s going to probably be ready to graduate from the OHL if he continues on the path that he’s on. And again, he’ll probably get to college, probably struggle for a little bit as he gets his feet under him, but the way he like he’s just showing a lot I think in in how his growth and development is going in such a short amount of time. So, um, really positive things to see see from Wong in his again small sample size, right? Um, but he’s playing on the power play. He’s playing on the peak. He’s playing like all situations. He’s playing top pairing minutes. Um, you know, for for Ashawa and like it’s usually like he’s not power play one, but he’s usually on the second power play unit. um like the puck’s coming to him and he he’s letting that thing go, which is I I think it just a testament to how he has grown and developed as a player in such a short time. And you wonder if the Sharks like when they got got a hold of him at development camp, we’re just like just let it rip, man. Like that the best thing for you to do is just let it rip and and keep working on these puck touches and keep working on your offensive game because we feel the defensive game is going to be there and that’s just going to naturally come. But if you can round out this offensive game some more and you can show a little bit more here, um it’s be a good sign for for your development. That way you’re not like a you know just kind of a guy that we can only play in these like defensiveminded situations, right? We want this defenseman that you can play in all situations. Uh hopefully that’s that’s that’s what you’re hoping for, especially with a very high second round pick like like Wong. So uh but so far so good for for him. Um becoming a real joy to watch him play and just see that grow. you feel like a proud parent watching his growth and development. So, um but uh yes, so Hashi Wong uh well on his way. So, we’re going to be talking about uh Max Heisy uh who has uh it’s very easy to see uh why the San Jose Sharks drafted Heisy uh this year even as an overager. Like the the path to success for Heisy is pretty clear. So, we’ll discuss Heisy uh here in just one second. The NFL season is here and FanDuel has an offer you don’t want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and you’ll get $300 in bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Great thing about FanDuel is they cover so many different ways to play. You can do parlays, right? If you think of a series of things are going to happen or you you know which teams are going to win and lose on Sunday, uh you can do player props. Again, I keep giving you guys the Darren Waller touchdowns thing. So, we’ll see if it goes for a third week in a row or even follow live lines during the games. It makes watching football even more exciting when you got a little something riding on the action. So, what are you waiting for? Visit fanuel.com to download the FanDuel app today and to get started. All right, before we continue, do of course want to thank you for making Locked on Sharks your first listen. If you haven’t yet, perfect time to subscribe uh wherever you get podcast and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. Uh we’ll continue to do these uh prospect check-ins throughout the season, probably every couple weeks here, checking in on different San Jose Sharks prospects. Of course, we got you covered before and after every game. Um, and we got some fun interviews like planned uh scheduled. They’ll be coming down the pipe. Pipe Pike. I always forget which one’s which, but uh they’ll be coming here really soon. So, make sure you follow along again wherever you get podcast and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. So, Max Heisy uh who the Sharks drafted this year uh in the fifth round. So, he was an overager. He was actually eligible for the 2024 draft. got passed over uh came this year uh was drafted um and after playing in the BCHL last year he transferred over to the uh WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders as we’re seeing more and more of these young players have this freedom right where you can kind of bounce around to what situations work the best for you right and he’s going to be you know uh going to Michigan State next year Michigan State uh top top program especially when it comes to development and I know their uh weight and strength and conditioning uh from from what I hear is pretty good as well. So, uh but Max Heisy 6’3, 170 lbs. So, that strength and conditioning is going to be coming in uh pretty handy here. Uh two, like I said, 150th overall uh right-handed center uh this year with the Prince Albert Raiders in five games, four goals, two assists with 16 shots on goal. Uh he was also named one of the alternate captains for them as basically as soon as he got there. So um Heisy though watch like I didn’t really watch Heisy you know even after he was drafted like I didn’t watch any of his tape or anything like that uh this summer. So the first time I I watched him you know I was going in very f like all I had read was just his you know draft profiles all that fun stuff. but um very fresh like not you know didn’t really know what to expect other than he’s a big boy and he likes to play big boy hockey and you can clearly see why the San Jose Sharks drafted him because if you like he plays a nononsense uh type of game, right? He knows exactly what he’s supposed to do basically on every play and he does it very well. He knows what his role is. He doesn’t try to do too much like he is a nononsense lunch pale bluecollar type of player. Does that like again do I think he’s going to be like some superstar? Probably not. But it’s good to have these types of players in your organizations, right? Um because you need these types of guys whether it’s AHL depth, whether it’s NHL depth or right or what it whatever it is like Heisy feels like he’s going to have a a position in the San Jose Sharks organization because of the style of hockey that he plays. That’s what I really like about Mike Greer and his drafting, you know, is like you know exactly what this dude’s role is going to be, right? You draft Michael Misa. Yes. It’s easy when you draft like Michael Misa and you draft uh you know Melbourne and Will Smith you know what those guys roles are going to be but like some of these later round picks right um you know you talk even like your your Joey Maldon’s uh like you know Maldon’s role is going to be like a energyc scoring third line type of guy who’s going to be awesome on the PK and he’s already started to show those in college like that that’s going to be his role Max Heisy’s role is going to be that kind of bottom you know fourth line center who can provide a little bit of uh a little bit of scoring pop. Um he again he’s going to play like pretty clean hockey and like he shows that in in the WHL and again like he’s he’s 19, right? He should be he should be better than most the kids he’s playing against, right? As a guy who is, you know, older. Um but it’s just good to see that like those details are there already with him. his I really like his ability to find quiet ice um and like working with his teammates and he’s kind really easy to kind of get lost in a good way of you know kind of slipping away from the defender finding some quiet ice and then opening up for that one-time for that pass for um to try to score a goal and he scored he’s scored four goals so far this year with Prince Albert like he’s a he’s playing second line minutes for them playing on their second center he’s playing on the top power play He’s playing some on the PK. Like Heisy is going to be that kind of do it all type of player that you need. Um 6’3, like I said, he’s gonna have to put on some weight and build up some muscle, but that’s where I think going to college and getting that freshman 15, uh not going to be the worst thing in the world for for him, right? Especially with that 6’3 frame. And again, working with Michigan State, kind of known for their their strength and development. He’s going to be in a good spot there where I think that I’m not worried about the weight. Uh, I think that that issue will solve itself over the next couple seasons. So, do I think Heisy is a guy who’s going to be like in the AHL like in two years? Probably not. But I think this was a really smart bet by the San Jose Sharks because of his style of play, right? Like um he’s got pretty good wheels. Uh like I said, he’s very smart. He’s willing to throw a hit. He’s tough in front of the net. like um very hard to move him even with his his you know yes he’s 6’3 but even at the weight. So once he continues to get some more weight on him he’s going to be a a tough guy to get out of the way uh in front of the net even as the competition kind of continues to increase in the in college and in the AHL. So, um, Heis feels like a really solid bet to be a guy who plays professional h like who earns a contract from the the San Jose Sharks and plays professional hockey for them. Uh, again, do I think he’s going to be some like superstar? Probably not, but I think he’s gonna be a really really useful piece. So, Heisy. Yeah, Heisy. Yeah, just just keep an eye on Heisy. I don’t know. Just something about him, man. like like just watching some of his games and watching some there or just something about Heisy. He kind of maybe it’s just the blonde hair because he’s got that like kind of you know uh like bleach blonde hair. He kind of is like your poor man’s Philip Beast I think is the best way to put it where not going to be super flashy. Uh and you know Beast I think has grown into his role a little bit more uh as he’s come over to North America but right you you kind of very dependable. They’re going to go out there. They’re going to work hard like they’re big bodies. are going to defend. Well, it’s it’s kind of he’s kind of a poor man’s filth beast. That’s kind of the sense I get from from watching him uh so far with Prince Albert. So, um we about talk about two quickly talk about two other guys here. Uh and Christian Kersh, the goalie, and then of course Eric PCamp, the defenseman, who are both off to uh really hot starts uh with their respective teams. Uh so, we’ll get to that here in just one second. Hockey season is officially here and nothing beats getting uh getting to the arena for those opening games. But let’s be real, getting tickets can be a total headache sometimes between waiting and cues, surprise fees, prices that jump right before checkout. It’s easy to get frustrated when all you want to do is cheer on your team. That’s when game time comes in. The app that gives fans the advantage. It’s your ultimate life hack for scoring amazing NHL tickets easy and stressfree and fast. I’ve used it before a bunch of times for getting Shark tickets. Um the great thing about it is like all the prices are already included so there’s no surprise fees. You’re not going to check out and then all of a sudden you’re slammed with a bunch of hidden fee. Like everybody hates that. They take that away. You know exactly what you’re paying uh when you go to check out. Um and you can even find NHL tickets for under 25 bucks. I know the Sabres tickets I saw were like $8 uh tonight. I know Sharks tickets can be uh pretty inexpensive as well. So, take the guesswork out of buying NHL tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. That’s code locked on NHL. L O C D O NHL for $20 off. Swap uh swipe, sorry, tap ticket. Go. All right, before we finish up, do of course want to thank you for making lockdown sharks your first listen. When you’re done with this episode, go check out the lock on NHL game night. They cover every game, every night until a Stanley Cup champion is crowned, even these horrible Sharks games. So, uh, get local analysis on a national scale. Find NHL game night on locked on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. So, uh, Eric PCamp, uh, pretty good, uh, pretty pretty good. So, uh, he’s, of course, a junior at the University of Denver. Uh, he has had a great start to his season. Uh, he’s played two games. He has a hat-tick, assist, and 12 shots on goal. Just a reminder, Eric Pamp is a defenseman. Um, so he became the tw 12th defender at University of Denver history to score a hat-tick. Um, PC camp like there is a very strong argument for myself included that you should shine as ELC, go play with the Barracuda this season. He went back to University of Denver. Uh, one, you’re getting coached by Coach Carl who’s one of the best coaches in the country. Uh, two, he wants to win a championship, right? Denver’s going for their third championship in five years. Uh, and Pole Camp has been given basically the keys to the car from the blue line with Zillium now in Minnesota. It is Pole Camp’s blue line and he has uh very much taken advantage of it early on. And yes, I know the the competition early in the season, they were playing Bentley College, right? Very much kind of a cupcake schedule to start the season. Okay, you still got to do the thing. And you see like hockey uh hockey upsets all the time in in college like um you still got to do the thing and 12 shots on goal in two games with a hat-tick in there. Uh great start to him. Great start for him. And Pole Camp, if you’ve never watched Pole Camp, uh he is not the biggest dude. He’s like 5 foot 10, but he is stout. He is strong. Um, you know, a couple years ago when they were playing Boston College, uh, like he was all taking out Ryan Leonard. Ryan Leonard, great powered forward in in college. Uh, he was going toe-to-toe with him in the crease. Um, his ability to kind of shut down plays at the blue line defensively. uh extremely extremely uh like one of his best skills right there is just that that ability to shut down plays uh with both a stick and physically at the blue line. Um but the offense like he if you’re looking for a two-way defenseman, right? Uh Eric PCamp feels like a really smart bet and as a reminder he was an overager when the Sharks drafted him out of the USHL. went to Bumiji State for a little bit. Uh destroyed the competition at Biji State and is now this is his second year uh with the University of Denver and it looks like a really smart choice for him. Uh I’m still very much like as soon as the season is over, you sign him to his ELC uh get him playing in the NHL and then you figure out what to do with him next season, whether it’s start in the AHL or send play in the NHL, whatever it is. Uh I think PCM is an NHL player at some point. Like I’m really high on Eric PC camp. I think he’s very good player. Um and like he’s just you like he just kind of continues to find a way, right? He he found his way onto the US uh national team when they won uh I think the first one that they won gold uh when they went back to back and then you know he he played a little bit there but you know like he he still made the team won gold right and he’s just a guy who just kind of continues to find a way and figure things out and I think this year is gonna be a big season for pole camp um like one if I’m Mike Greer I got that contract ready to go as soon as his season is over in April So, uh, I don’t care if I have to burn a burn a year to get him signed. I don’t care. I want him in my organization now and long term. I think he’s that good. So, um, and then another player, uh, who who’s had a really good start with a change of scenery here is goalender Christian Kersh. Uh, so Kersh was a pick, uh, last year in the 2024 draft. Um, fourth round pick uh, coming over from uh, Switzerland. Uh last year he played in the USHL and the NAHL. Um this year he made the transition over to the OHL and he’s going to be going to college next year. But so far so good for Christian Kersh in the OHL. He’s played five games, 2.00 goals allowed, 923 save percentage. He’s got four wins um in his time there. And I think Kersh uh watching some of his games like with goalies, so much of it is environment, right? Of like you want that balance of you you don’t want to get shelled every night, but you still want to kind of make their life a little bit difficult. And I I think I don’t think in the USLN NAHHL like he was in a great position to succeed with some of those teams, right? And if you look at his stats from last year, like they’re not great. like not great where he is just put behind tough teams and he’s trying to kind of survive uh out there and it’s first year coming over to North America felt like a little bit of a tough season. Um I think it’s right if I recall correctly got traded to this Chicago Steel but he decided to go to the OHL and he’s playing with the Kitchener Rangers and the Rangers are predom like usually a perennial I guess is the word I’m looking for perennially a a pretty good team. Um, and it looks like he’s f refound his game playing with Kitner. So, um, like you you see he’s big, like 6’4. He’s got good, uh, agility, good ability to kind of move from side to side. His puck tracking is pretty good. Like the one I was watching his game from the other day where he he went 18 of 19 on saves. The one goal he gave up was like it was just a really nice feed from behind the net and the defenseman lost uh the forward. So, wasn’t too much he could do there, but he looked really strong on on the the penalty kill when you’re kind of facing, you know, all all situ like kind of facing just a barrage of shots there. Um, and I think you can kind of maybe just write off last year as just a bad season. I think, you know, he’s he’s already got the right now, at least currently in the OHL, he’s got the third best save percentage in the OHL. He’s also got the third best uh goals against average in the OHL among qualifying goalies. Like I think he’s, you know, this pit stop to the OL is probably going to set him up for success before he goes to University of Massachusetts next year. Um and you know, continues to kind of face tougher competition. Um you know, and and good for him to kind of realize like this wasn’t a place for me to succeed. Uh and it looks like he’s found a place for him to succeed. So, good to see that he’s off to a a great start, right? You never know with these goalies, right, where where they come from. And I’m I’m still even though the Sharks have drafted, you know, Kersh, they they drafted another goalie last year. Um they drafted Ravensburg. I’m very like just draft a goalie every year. Like, I’m very much in that same that camp of just draft a goalie every year because you never know where they’re going to come from. And uh I think Kersh is, you know, well on his way to kind of rebounding from last year and and kind of refining his game. So, good to see from him uh as as he’s had a really really nice start in the OHL. So, um but yeah, that’s going to be it for me today uh as we exit the prospect reef. Uh like I said, we’ll probably do these every couple weeks here as I kind of continue to watch uh Sharks prospects and their games and take notes and all that fun stuff. So, uh make sure you’re following along wherever you get podcast and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, uh Instagram, and on Tik Tok at lockdown sharks. Follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky Fryhole. Until tomorrow. Bye, friends.

San Jose Sharks prospects are making waves across multiple leagues. From the OHL to the NCAA, young talent is turning heads and raising eyebrows.

Haoxi Wang, the towering 6’6″ defenseman, has already doubled his point total from last year in just five games for the Oshawa Generals. His rapid development showcases improved confidence and decision-making on the ice. Max Heise transitions seamlessly to the WHL, notching 4 goals and 2 assists in five games for the Prince Albert Raiders. His no-nonsense, blue-collar style projects him as a future bottom-six center with scoring touch.

Eric Pohlkamp lights up the scoreboard for the University of Denver, tallying a hat trick and an assist in two games. His offensive prowess and shutdown ability at the blue line make him a prime candidate for an entry-level contract. Christian Kirsch impresses between the pipes for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, posting a 2.00 GAA and .923 save percentage in five games.

Tune in to hear detailed analysis on these rising stars and why drafting a goalie every year could be the key to future success.

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