LAS VEGAS — When Kevin He first laced up his inline skates at age 3 to skate with his dad, hockey wasn’t on his radar.
There were no organized hockey teams or leagues in Beijing, China, where He was born and spent his early childhood. But when the family moved to Canada, hockey became a passion for He.
On Saturday, he fulfilled a dream and made history at the same time. He became the earliest Chinese player selected in an NHL draft, as the Winnipeg Jets drafted him in the fourth round (109th overall) in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at the Las Vegas Sphere .
“It’s a dream come true,” said the 18-year-old forward, the second Chinese selected in the history of the draft. Andong Song was the first when the New York Islanders selected him in the sixth round (172nd) in 2015.
“It’s incredible, a huge honor. I have a lot of fans who were texting me right before the draft wishing me the best of luck and supporting me. »
What feelings did He feel the moment he heard his name echoing in the Sphere? The usual emotions plus a rumbling in the stomach. But not for the reasons you think.
“I was starving,” He said with a laugh. “I didn’t eat this morning. I didn’t have lunch. I woke up early to prepare for the draft. I focused more on my hunger.
“But no, in the moment I was a little nervous, a little anxious because you don’t know where you’re going to go. When the Jets made that trade, I had a feeling it was going to happen. »
The Jets originally had the 123rd pick in the fourth round, but traded it along with their seventh-round pick (219th) to the Buffalo Sabers in order to move up to 109th overall to select He.
“We had a strong belief that he was not going to be available if we waited any longer. Fortunately, we came across an opportunity to move up and select him,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said.
“When someone is so proud of their heritage and their skills in the sport they play, it says a lot about that person. If it ends well, that’s a bonus. It’s always nice to see more diversity in hockey, and it could help make the sport even more popular. It would be a great story if he continues to take the next step. »
He recorded 53 points (31 goals, 22 assists) in 64 games last season with the Niagara IceDogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He spent the last two seasons with the IceDogs, finishing with 87 points (52 goals, 35 assists) in 130 games. He said several members of the IceDogs team and staff traveled to Las Vegas to witness his big moment.
