He makes history at 2024 NHL Draft as 2nd China-born player selected | NHL.com

He had 53 points (31 goals, 22 assists) in 64 games last season with Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League. He’s played the past two seasons with Niagara, finishing with 87 points (52 goals, 35 assists) in 130 games. He said many from the Niagara team and staff made the trip to Vegas to see his big moment.

He also had about 13 family members present, including five aunts, a few cousins, two nephews that He said he got to meet for the first time and his dad.

The love for hockey actually came from He’s father, Jason, who went to school in Moncton, New Brunswick, as an international student. When Kevin was 5, the family moved to Montreal.

“I wanted them to play hockey. That’s my passion. The best place to play hockey is in Canada, so we moved to Canada,” Jason said.

“He was a great skater probably from Day One. I took him on rollerblades first at the age of 3. He has a younger brother (Eric), and both love skating and both play hockey. They spent so many years in outdoor hockey, roller hockey and that makes them great skaters.”

Adjusting on ice was one thing, off ice was another. Kevin came to Canada speaking only Mandarin.

“French was very hard for me,” said He, who is now trilingual in speaking Mandarin, French and English fluently. “I remember sitting there, first day (in school) and just not knowing anything and I’d have to quickly pick it up or something.

“When I moved to Toronto, I tried to work on my English a little bit more. It helps with the culture as well. I went to a few Habs games, able to speak French with some of the fans. It’s all fun.”

He will get back to training and will return to Niagara this season. He’ll have a familiar face with him: brother Eric, who’s one year younger than him. Eric spent most of last season with North York of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and also played 12 games with Niagara, who signed him to an OHL scholarship and development agreement in February.

Could Eric follow in Kevin’s footsteps one day?

“Keep my fingers crossed,” Jason said with a smile. “He works hard. He’ll be playing on the same OHL team but (there’s still a) lot of work, lot of work.”

Kevin has not been back to China since moving from there as a child. He’d love to return some day to see family and he’d love to inspire more players from China in the future.

“I hope so, yeah,” He said. “I hope to be a role model for the kids, to try to pick up hockey.”