IceDogs reinforce defence ahead of playoff push

Image credit: Bob Davies

After making the playoffs for the first time in six years last spring, the Niagara IceDogs went into this year's trade deadline looking to upgrade their blue line.

Sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 22-19-3-1 record, the IceDogs are hoping their acquisitions of veteran defencemen Jakub Chromiak and Haoxi Wang will help make them a harder team to play against in the postseason.

Chromiak brings a wealth of major junior experience, having played in 213 career games over parts of four OHL seasons. He also represented Slovakia at last year’s World Junior Championship. Before the trade, the overage defenceman had six goals and 17 assists with a plus-23 rating in 38 games with the Kitchener Rangers.

Wang began last year in the OJHL with the King Rebellion before helping the Oshawa Generals reach the OHL Championship Series. Prior to the move, the 6-foot-5 defenceman had two goals and 11 assists in 28 games. The Beijing native is committed to Boston University.

Since joining the IceDogs, Chromiak has a goal and five points in eight games, while Wang has five points in seven contests.

“Both Chromiak and Wang have been a real nice support system,” head coach Krys Barch said. “A real nice stimulus for our young group to learn from.”

Image credit: Bob Davies

This summer, Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks took him in the second round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, a record previously held by former IceDogs captain Kevin He.

He was selected in the fourth round by the Winnipeg Jets and became the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract.

“You can see why San Jose stepped up to grab him,” Barch said. “Really efficient and high IQ on the offensive side of the puck, the ability to move pucks, the ability to transport pucks through and out of our D zone and through our neutral zone, then again, utilizing his size.”

Barch thinks Chromiak and Wang are perfect additions.

“I look at (GM Frank Evola) and what he was doing with respect to changing culture here,” Barch said. “Implementing the idea and vision that we had, and Wang and Chromiak have really fit into that model.”

While helping the IceDogs return to the playoffs, Wang is focused on his overall development.

“Just getting better every single day, play a 200-foot game, be reliable defensively, and try to create offence at the same time,” Wang said. “Obviously with a bigger role this year, and try to step up more and try to teach young guys how to play the game the right way.”

As he settles into Niagara, Wang has enjoyed playing at the Meridian Centre.

“I feel like the crowd was there for us. It was loud. It was engaging,” Wang said. “So I'm really pleased with them.”