Josh Ho-Sang plans return to hockey despite shocking new career

With his hockey career on the shelf at the moment, former NHL forward Josh Ho-Sang released a rap album on Tuesday. The album, called SAME, contains 18 songs, starting with a piece titled “It’s Time to Grow Up.” In the song, the first round pick of the New York Islanders in 2014 implies regret over the choices he made at the start of his NHL career.

Here are some of the lyrics from the single: “I thought I was homesick. But really, I was just holding on to times when things were simple, moving slowly, and the pressure was less. My biggest problem was going every day. I measured my progress. I wonder when that started stopping, not just my growth, but the celebration of my success. I wonder when my pride turned into stress…”

A lot happened for Ho-Sang at the start of his career. The controversial player made headlines more than once, most notably for being late to practice in his first season with the Islanders and consequently being sent back down to the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.

More happened that got Ho-Sang to be moved around and demoted. In 2019 when he left the Islanders, he got the chance to sign a pro tryout with the Toronto Maple Leafs but failed to crack their roster, playing for their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. He then played in the KHL for the 2022-23 season but hasn’t played since suffering an injury, with many fans believing that he would call it a career, especially with the stunning announcement of a rap career underway.

However, Ho-Sang is working toward a return to hockey. According to Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, the former first rounder is likely to sign with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

Ho-Sang played 53 games in the NHL, all with the New York Islanders, putting up seven goals and 17 assists.

Will there be more?

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