Niagara GM: Islanders' Ho-Sang 'embarrassed' after being sent back to OHL for lateness
Joshua Ho-Sang's OHL general manager says the prospect is shaken after the New York Islanders sent him back to the Niagara IceDogs for showing up late on his first day of NHL training camp.
"He is devastated. He is very upset and humbled by the whole thing. Embarrassed by it," IceDogs GM and head coach Marty Williamson told DJ Brooks of Bullet News Niagara.
"He is a good kid. I feel for Josh. He has to learn there are consequences for these types of actions. I think in the big picture, he will be a better man for it."
Ho-Sang was sent back to the OHL club Friday, ending the 19-year-old forward's bid to crack the Islanders roster out of the NHL camp.
"(Islanders GM) Garth Snow and (director of player development) Eric Cairns both gave me a call and let me know (Ho-Sang) slept in this morning and was being sent home,” Williamson said.
Ho-Sang impressed the Islanders with commendable behavior in rookie camp, but Williamson acknowledged his young star's history can work against him.
"The bottom line is he didn't show up on time and Josh has a track record," the IceDogs GM and head coach said.
"He has to be accountable for those kind of things. Everything else was exemplary. He did everything else well. He made a mistake and he has put himself in a position where he can't make mistakes."
Williamson shed light on the aforementioned track record.
"When you make mistakes a long time ago, they kind of linger with you. I think Josh has made a lot of strides in the right direction. He has honestly worked on it. He is not perfect. He has some habits he needs to work on. He stays up too late playing video games and stuff like that. He sleeps through things and gets himself exhausted."
Niagara's head coach said this isn't a matter of hockey ability.
"He is not being sent home because he can't skate or he can't play the game. He is great. He is being sent home for something he can control 100 per cent."
Ho-Sang scored 17 goals and added 64 assists in 60 games split between the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and the IceDogs last season.
The Islanders selected him 28th overall in 2014.