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Josh Ho-Sang

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Joshua Navarro Ho-Sang (born January 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL and recording artist. He recently played for the Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round, 28th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Josh Ho-Sang
Young man wearing hockey jersey and helmet
Ho-Sang with the New York Islanders in 2017
Born (1996-01-22) January 22, 1996 (age 28)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 173 lb (78 kg; 12 st 5 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
ECHL team
Former teams		 Florida Everblades
New York Islanders
Örebro HK
Linköping HC
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
National team  Canada
NHL draft 28th overall, 2014
New York Islanders
Playing career 2016–present

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

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Ho-Sang was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Jamaican father of Chinese and African descent and a Chilean mother of Russian-Jewish and Swedish heritage.[2][3] He grew up in the Thornhill neighbourhood of the Regional Municipality of York, in the Toronto suburbs.[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 centre 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

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He was selected by the Windsor Spitfires in the first round (5th overall) during the 2012 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection.[5] He was rated a top prospect.[13]

In his first season with the Spitfires, Ho-Sang recorded 44 points in 63 games, finishing sixth among OHL rookies.[14] 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 at 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Ho-Sang skated in the 2014 BMO Top Prospects Game, recording one goal and one assist.[15] On April 5, Ho-Sang received a 15-game suspension (later reduced to six games) for the start of the next season for an illegal hit-from-behind to London Knights' defenceman Zach Bell on March 27. The hit resulted in Bell suffering a broken leg.[16]

Ho-Sang was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (28th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. 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."[17][18] Snow also stated "We get the players that we feel can help us win. [And] we don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks."[19] In October 2014, the Islanders signed Ho-Sang to a three-year, entry-level contract.[20]

Ho-Sang was returned to the Spitfires for the 2014–15 season. On November 14, he was traded to the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for Hayden McCool and second-round picks in 2016, 2018 and 2019.[21] He finished the season with 81 points in 60 games.

Ho-Sang was returned to the IceDogs as punishment for being late to the first day of the Islanders' 2015 training camp.[22] In his final season with the IceDogs, Ho-Sang led the team in scoring with 82 points in 66 games. He also recorded 26 points in 17 postseason games; the team lost in four games to the London Knights during the OHL Finals.[23]

 
Ho-Sang wore #66 in honor of Mario Lemieux

Ho-Sang began the 2016–17 season with the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. On February 28, 2017, he was called up by the Islanders on emergency conditions but was returned to Bridgeport just a few hours later.[24] 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, a first-period power play goal against the Edmonton Oilers.[25]

Ho-Sang started the 2017–18 season with the Islanders. On October 25, he was assigned to the Sound Tigers after recording four assists in six games.[26] He was recalled on an emergency basis on November 11, 2017.[27] The emergency basis was terminated and changed to a regular recall on November 16.[28] It was short-lived, however, as he was sent back down to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on December 16, 2017, after recording eight points in 15 games.

After being named the Sound Tigers' Player of the Week on February 17, 2019, Ho-Sang and Michael Dal Colle were recalled to the Islanders on March 5.[29] He was returned to the Sound Tigers on March 8 after sitting as a healthy scratch for two games.[30]

On August 19, 2019, the Islanders re-signed Ho-Sang to a one-year contract extension.[31] However, on September 30 Ho-Sang was placed on waivers by the Islanders.[32] Ho-Sang cleared waivers on October 1, and was assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to start the 2019-2020 American Hockey League season.[33]

On October 3, 2019, it was reported by Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello that Ho-Sang had requested a trade through his agent.[34] Ho-Sang, despite clearing waivers and being assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, was asked not to report to or play.[35][36][37] Ho-Sang missed the first 10 weeks of the 2019–20 season, as Lamoriello attempted to meet his trade request.

Unable to facilitate a trade, Ho-Sang returned to the Islanders organization when he was assigned to the Sound Tigers on December 17, 2019. In 16 games with Bridgeport, Ho-Sang posted 3 goals and 10 points before the Islanders reassigned him to join the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL affiliate to the St. Louis Blues, for the remainder of the season on February 28, 2020.[38]

As a restricted free agent, Ho-Sang was signed by New York to a one-year contract extension on October 28, 2020.[39] Remaining with the Islanders through the off-season leading into the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Ho-Sang attended training camp before he was reassigned by the Islanders on loan to Swedish top-tier club, Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), for the remainder of the season on January 16, 2021.[40] Ho-Sang made just 5 appearances with Örebro, collecting 1 assist, before he was released by the club citing a lack of match fitness on February 10, 2021.[41] Ho-Sang remained in Sweden, agreeing to a loan contract with Linköping HC for the remainder of the season on February 14.[42] On July 28, 2021, Ho-Sang was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2021–22 training camp on a professional tryout contract (PTO).[43] On October 5, 2021, Ho-Sang signed a standard player contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and was subsequently released by the Leafs from the PTO.[44]

As a free agent from the Marlies, on July 13, 2022, Ho-Sang signed a one-year contract with Russian club Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL for the 2022–23 season.[45]

On March 13, 2024, Ho-Sang signed a contract with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL for the 2023–2024 season.[46] He won the Kelly Cup by the end of the season,[47] with his 17 assists leading all players in the 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs.[48]

Jersey number

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Ho-Sang chose to wear sweater #66 for the Islanders as an homage to Mario Lemieux, who, in response to the 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 pay homage to 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...."[49] He is the second player, after Calgary Flames defenceman T. J. Brodie, to wear the number after Lemieux in a regular season game.[49][50] At the start of the 2018–19 NHL pre-season Ho-Sang was asked by general manager Lou Lamoriello to change his Islanders jersey number,[51] as Lamoriello has long stood by a policy which generally forbids players from wearing any number higher than 35.[52] Ho-Sang chose to wear #26 instead.[51]

International play

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In January 2022, Ho-Sang was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[53][54][55]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Windsor Spitfires OHL 63 14 30 44 22 — — — — —
2013–14 Windsor Spitfires OHL 67 32 53 85 44 4 1 2 3 10
2014–15 Windsor Spitfires OHL 11 3 16 19 8 — — — — —
2014–15 Niagara IceDogs OHL 49 14 48 62 38 11 1 15 16 18
2015–16 Niagara IceDogs OHL 66 19 63 82 44 17 6 20 26 8
2016–17 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 50 10 26 36 24 — — — — —
2016–17 New York Islanders NHL 21 4 6 10 12 — — — — —
2017–18 New York Islanders NHL 22 2 10 12 2 — — — — —
2017–18 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 50 8 23 31 40 — — — — —
2018–19 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 56 8 35 43 18 5 1 1 2 0
2018–19 New York Islanders NHL 10 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
2019–20 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 16 3 7 10 0 — — — — —
2019–20 San Antonio Rampage AHL 6 1 2 3 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Örebro HK SHL 5 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Linköping HC SHL 4 2 0 2 4 — — — — —
2021–22 Toronto Marlies AHL 47 16 19 35 24 — — — — —
2022–23 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 1 0 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Florida Everblades ECHL 11 2 13 15 6 22 1 17 18 16
NHL totals 53 7 17 24 20 — — — — —
SHL totals 9 2 1 3 6 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Canada Ontario U17 6th 5 3 2 5 0
2022 Canada OG 6th 5 0 3 3 2
Junior totals 5 3 2 5 0
Senior totals 5 0 3 3 2

Awards and honours

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Honours Year
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2014 [56]
Kelly Cup 2024 [47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Craig Custance (June 25, 2014). "NHL – Josh Ho-Sang is ultra-skilled and well rounded, but also frustrating". ESPN. June 25, 2014.
  9. ^ Jeff Z. Klein and Allan Kreda (June 28, 2014). "Islanders Take Brash Player, Ignoring Doubts of Other Teams", The New York Times.
  10. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Bob Duff (November 14, 2014). "Younger Ho-Sang also elite athlete". The Windsor Star.
  13. ^ Neate Sager (February 27, 2014). "NHL draft tracker: Josh Ho-Sang, Windsor Spitfires". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  14. ^ "Spitfires' Ho-Sang signs with Islanders". OHL Network. October 4, 2014.
  15. ^ Laurence Heinen (January 5, 2014). "Team Orr beats Team Cherry in CHL Top Prospects Game". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  16. ^ "Ho-Sang suspended 15 games for hit on Knights defenceman". Windsor Star. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  17. ^ "Live updates from the NHL draft". Q.
  18. ^ "Isles GM Snow has meltdown at draft". NY Daily News. June 28, 2014.
  19. ^ "NHL Draft 2014: Panthers' turn on stage a showstopper". Sporting News.
  20. ^ "Josh Ho-Sang". CapFriendly.com.
  21. ^ "IceDogs Acquire Ho-Sang from Spits". Niagara IceDogs. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  22. ^ Lewis, Scott. "Isles GM Snow on Ho-Sang: 'Enough with the bull'". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  23. ^ "London Knights win Robertson Cup". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  24. ^ "Islanders Recall Ho-Sang". NHL.com. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  25. ^ Canadian Press (March 7, 2017). "Ho-Sang gets first NHL goal as Islanders topple Oilers". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  26. ^ "Islanders forward Josh Ho-Sang reassigned to AHL Bridgeport". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. October 25, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  27. ^ "Josh Ho-Sang recalled by Islanders on emergency basis". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Associated Press. November 11, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  28. ^ "Josh Ho-Sang's emergency recall terminated, changed to regular recall". sny.tv. SportsNet New York. November 16, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  29. ^ "DAL COLLE, HO-SANG EMERGENCY RECALLED BY THE ISLANDERS". soundtigers.com. March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  30. ^ Wright, Cory (March 8, 2019). "Isles Day to Day: Dal Colle Changed To Regular Recall". NHL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  31. ^ "Ho-Sang Agrees To One-Year Contract". New York Islanders. August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  32. ^ Leahy, Sean (September 30, 2019). "Ho-Sang, DeSmith, Sprong headline waiver wire - ProHockeyTalk | NBC Sports". Nhl.nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  33. ^ Teague, Matt (October 2019). "Islanders' Ho-Sang, Ducks' Sprong among players to clear waivers". theScore.com. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  34. ^ "Lamoriello: Ho-Sang requests trade". The Sports Network. October 3, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  35. ^ "Hurricanes avoid Josh Ho-Sang". cardiaccanes.com. October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  36. ^ "Islanders' Ho-Sang hasn't reported to Bridgeport". eyesonisles.com. October 3, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  37. ^ "Ho-Sang hoping to be traded — The Fourth Period". Thefourthperiod.com. October 3, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  38. ^ "Islanders reassign Ho-Sang to Blues affiliate". The Sports Network. February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  39. ^ "Islanders sign Greer, Ho-Sang and two others". New York Islanders. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  40. ^ "Welcome Josh Ho-Sang" (in Swedish). Örebro HK. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  41. ^ "Orebro and Josh Ho-Sang part ways" (in Swedish). Örebro HK. February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  42. ^ "Josh Ho-Sang joins LHC" (in Swedish). Linköping HC. February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  43. ^ "Maple Leafs add Ho-Sang on PTO". TSN.ca. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  44. ^ "Maple Leafs release Josh Ho-Sang from PTO; signs deal with Marlies".
  45. ^ "Newcomer Josh Ho-Sang comes to Salavat" (in Russian). Salavat Yulaev Ufa. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  46. ^ "How Josh Ho-Sang's tumultuous NHL tenure influenced his new rap album".
  47. ^ a b "HISTORY MADE; EVERBLADES WIN THIRD STRAIGHT KELLY CUP". Florida Everblades. June 8, 2024.
  48. ^ "Former first-round pick Josh Ho-Sang's comeback is about more than hockey". Rinkside (EliteProspects). June 8, 2024.
  49. ^ a b "Mario Lemieux OK with Joshua Ho-Sang wearing No. 66". NHL.com. March 24, 2017.
  50. ^ "Joshua Ho-Sang says wearing No. 66 'ultimate respect'". NHL.com. March 7, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  51. ^ a b Wilkins, Cory (September 8, 2018). "Islanders' Ho-Sang has new jersey number as Lamoriello makes his mark". thescore.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  52. ^ Stromberg, Mike (August 5, 2015). "After Lou Lamoriello's Exit, It Appears Many of His Quirks Will Leave With Him". Allaboutthejersey.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  53. ^ "Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent". www.cbc.ca/. CBC Sports. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  54. ^ Nichols, Paula (January 25, 2022). "Team Canada's 25-player men's hockey roster nominated for Beijing 2022". www.olympic.ca/. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  55. ^ Stephens, Mike (January 25, 2022). "Canada Names Men's 2022 Olympic Hockey Roster". The Hockey News. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  56. ^ Jim Parker (January 15, 2014). "Ekblad, Ho-Sang to showcase talents". Windsor Star. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by New York Islanders first round pick
2014 		Succeeded by
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