Larry Kwong

Lawrence Kwong (born Eng Kai Geong (Chinese: 吳啟光) June 17, 1923 – March 15, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is now widely recognized for being the first non-white and Asian descent player in the National Hockey League (NHL), thus breaking the NHL's colour barrier in 1948.[1][2][3][4]

Larry Kwong
Larry Kwong pictured with the Vernon Hydrophones in the 1938–39 season
Born (1923-06-17)June 17, 1923
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Died March 15, 2018(2018-03-15) (aged 94)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Playing career 1941–1959

Kwong was of Cantonese descent,[5] and was also the first NHL player from Vernon, British Columbia, and the Okanagan region. Kwong's nicknames included the "China Clipper" and "King Kwong".[6]

Although denied much playing time in the NHL, Kwong was a top player in senior hockey leagues outside the NHL throughout his entire career and battled the likes of Jean Beliveau for the scoring race in Quebec.

After his playing days, he lived in Europe and became the first ethnic Chinese coach of a professional hockey club in Switzerland. In his later years, he returned to Canada and operated a supermarket, following his father's footsteps.

Early years

Kwong was born in 1923 as the second youngest of 15 children born to Chinese immigrants who had arrived in 1884 for the gold rush in Cherry Creek, British Columbia.[7] His father had two wives and came to Canada in search of gold, but later failed. His father later started farming and then went into the grocery business in Vernon, British Columbia, calling his store Kwong Hing Lung. Larry's Chinese surname was Eng, but decided to take the name of his father's store as the last name in his English name.[8]

Just two weeks after his birth, the government of the Dominion of Canada enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923 which completely prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering Canada.[9] Kwong faced numerous acts of racial discrimination during his youthful years in Vernon, as he recalled being denied service at a barbershop because of his ethnic background.[7]

Early playing career

Kwong had practiced ice hockey on frozen ponds in Vernon and had not played organized hockey until he joined the Vernon Hydrophones when he was 16 years old.[10] He powered the Vernon Hydrophones to the midget hockey championship of BC in 1939 and then to the provincial juvenile title in 1941.[11] As an 18-year-old, Kwong jumped the junior ranks to play senior hockey after a try-out for the elite semi-professional Trail Smoke Eaters, who had won the 1939 World Ice Hockey Championships. In Trail, players who make the roster get good-paying jobs at a local smelter, but Kwong was denied a job working with his teammates at the smelter because of his Chinese heritage. Instead, he was sent to a nearby hotel to work as a bellhop, carrying bags for patrons.[12]

In 1942, the Chicago Black Hawks invited Kwong to training camp, but "the Canadian government refused to process the documentation needed to leave the country".[13]

In 1944, Kwong was drafted into the Canadian Army. Instead of being deployed overseas, he was selected to join "Sugar" Jim Henry and Mac Colville on the Red Deer Wheelers of the Central Alberta Garrison Hockey League. The Wheelers defeated the Calgary Combines (starring two-time NHL scoring champion Sweeney Schriner) in the playoff semi-final, before falling to Calgary Currie Army (whose roster included Hart Trophy winners Max Bentley and Tommy Anderson) in the final series.[14]

After World War II, Kwong returned to Trail and won the provincial senior hockey championship with the Smoke Eaters in 1946. In that BC Final series against the New Westminster Royals, Kwong led the Smokies in scoring (tied with Mike Buckna) and scored the Savage Cup-winning goal.[15]

Later in 1946, Lester Patrick scouted Kwong and was impressed, signing him for the New York Rovers, a farm team of the New York Rangers.[16] Kwong scored a goal in his debut for the Rovers against the Boston Olympics in Boston on October 27, 1946.[17] At Madison Square Garden on November 17, 1946, Shavey Lee presented Kwong with the Keys to New York's Chinatown. Kwong went on to lead the New York Rovers in scoring in 1947–1948 with 86 points in 65 games.

Larry Kwong pictured with the Trail Smoke Eaters

Breaking National Hockey League's colour barrier

On March 13, 1948, Kwong broke hockey's colour barrier by making his NHL debut with the New York Rangers as the first non-white player in the NHL. He wore number 11, and played against Maurice Richard and the Montreal Canadiens in the Montreal Forum. This event came less than a year after Jackie Robinson shattered the baseball color line in the US. During this game, Kwong waited until late in the third period before seeing the ice for his only shift of the night, in which he tallied no points in what would be his only big-league game.[1][18][19]

Demoted back to the minor league after his debut, Kwong became convinced that he would not get an opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level with the Rangers. Kwong, being the Rovers' top scorer, had watched several other Rover forwards get called to the NHL ahead of him.[20] In the off-season, Kwong accepted a more lucrative offer to play for the Valleyfield Braves of the Quebec Senior Hockey League.

Career peak outside of the NHL

Kwong went on to have a long and successful career in senior leagues in Canada and the United States. Coached by Toe Blake, Kwong was named as an alternate captain of the Valleyfield Braves. In 1951 Kwong won the Vimy Trophy as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the QSHL. That year, he led the Valleyfield Braves to the league championship and then to the Alexander Cup, the Canadian major senior title. In the following QSHL season (1951–52), Kwong's 38 goals were topped only by Jean Béliveau's 45 tallies. In his nine-year tenure in the Quebec League, competing against future NHL All-Stars such as Béliveau, Jacques Plante, Dickie Moore, Gerry McNeil and Jean-Guy Talbot, Kwong averaged better than a point per game. Béliveau, who later became a Hall of Fame inductee, said: "Larry made his wing men look good because he was a great passer. He was doing what a center man is supposed to do."[8]

Player-coaching career

A pioneer and ambassador for the game of hockey, Kwong accepted an offer to play and coach hockey in England and, later, in Lausanne, Switzerland, before it even became fashionable to play in Europe. His expected year there turned into a stay of fifteen. "I went there to coach ice hockey and then after six years of coaching, I decided to start teaching tennis as a tennis pro."[1] Kwong spent one season with the Nottingham Panthers in Britain, scoring 55 goals in 55 games, before moving to Switzerland where he led HC Ambrì-Piotta in scoring as player-coach.[21] With this coaching assignment, he became the first person of Chinese descent to coach a professional hockey team.[22] He later coached HC Lugano and HC Lausanne. Kwong also became a tennis coach in Switzerland.

Personal life

Kwong was married to Audrey Craven (1929–1979) in Nottingham in 1964. The couple had one daughter, Kristina. In 1972 Kwong returned to Canada with his family to run Food-Vale Supermarket (Kwong Hing Lung) with his brother, Jack. In 1989 Kwong married Janine Boyer. He was widowed for a second time in 1999. Retired from the grocery business, he lived in Calgary, Alberta.

Kwong died March 15, 2018 in Calgary.[1][23][24] He was survived by his daughter, Kristina (Dean) Heintz; granddaughters, Samantha and Madison; sisters, Betty Chan and Ina Ng; sisters-in-law, Janet, Irene, and Georgina; and numerous nieces and nephews.[25]

Honours & achievements

Kwong has been honoured on numerous occasions. Below is a list of select honours:

On-ice achievements

1939: British Columbia Midget Hockey Championship

1941: British Columbia Provincial Juvenile Title

1946: Leading scorer on the Trail Smoke Eaters

1946: Savage Cup Winner; scored the cup-winning goal

1948: Leading scorer on the New York Rovers (86 points in 65 games), the top minor league team for the New York Rangers

1948: Breaking the NHL's colour barrier by playing for the New York Rangers as the first non-white player in the league.

1951: Byng of Vimy Trophy winner as MVP of the QSHL, leader in assists (51), second in points (85), third in scoring (34)[7]

1951: QSHL Championship

1951: Alexander Cup winner. This cup is the Canadian national major senior ice hockey championship trophy.

1952: Second in QSHL league-scoring with 38 goals, only behind Jean Beliveau's 45 goals

1958: 55 goals in 55 games for the Nottingham Panthers at age 35

Awards

2002: Calgary's Asian Heritage Month Award

2009: Heritage Award from the Society of North American Historians and Researchers (SONAHR)[26]

2010: Okanagan Hockey Group's inaugural Pioneer Award in 2010[27]

November 23, 2011, Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in the Athlete category.[28]

September 19, 2013, Honoured Member of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.[29][30]

July 23, 2016, Honoured Member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.[31][30]

Kwong's game-worn 1942–43 Nanaimo Clippers sweater hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a part of its exhibit The Changing Face of Hockey – Diversity in Our Game. [32]

Honorary appearances

2009: Honoured by the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League in a pre-game ceremony[26]

2009: Saluted by the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League at the Saddledome.[33]

Movies and media

2011: Kwong's story is featured in the documentary film Lost Years: A People's Struggle for Justice (2011), written, directed and produced by Kenda Gee and Tom Radford.[34][35]

2014: The Shift: The Story of the China Clipper, a documentary by Chester Sit, Wes Miron and Tracy Nagai, had its theatrical premiere in Vernon, BC.[36]

2015: King Kwong: Larry Kwong, the China Clipper who Broke the NHL Colour Barrier, a biography by Paula Johanson, was published.[37]

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1938–41 Vernon Hydrophones BCAHA
1941–42 Trail Smoke Eaters ABCHL 29 9 13 22 10 3 0 0 0 0
1942–43 Nanaimo Clippers VISHL 11 6 6 12 0 3 0 1 1 2
1943–44 Vancouver St. Regis NNDHL 17 10 6 16 0
1943–44 Red Deer Wheelers CAGHL 2 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 3 0
1944–45 Did not play
1945–46 Trail Smoke Eaters WKHL 19 12 8 20 12 5 6 0 6 8
1946–47 New York Rovers EAHL 47 19 18 37 15 9 7 3 10 0
1947–48 New York Rangers NHL 1 0 0 0 0
1947–48 New York Rovers EAHL 17 13 16 29 5
1947–48 New York Rovers QSHL 48 20 37 57 23 4 1 0 1 0
1948–49 Valleyfield Braves QSHL 63 37 47 84 8 3 1 0 1 7
1949–50 Valleyfield Braves QSHL 60 25 35 60 16 5 2 1 3 2
1950–51 Valleyfield Braves QSHL 60 34 51 85 35 16 1 12 13 2
1950–51 Valleyfield Braves Alx-Cup 12 6 9 15 4
1951–52 Valleyfield Braves QSHL 60 38 28 66 16 6 1 5 6 0
1952–53 Valleyfield Braves QSHL 56 10 22 32 6 3 0 2 2 0
1953–54 Valleyfield Braves QHL 68 24 25 49 17 7 3 3 6 2
1954–55 Valleyfield Braves QHL 50 24 30 54 8
1955–56 Trois-Rivieres Lions QHL 29 3 6 9 10
1955–56 Troy Bruins IHL 21 9 9 18 2 5 1 2 3 2
1956–57 Troy Bruins IHL 9 1 0 1 0
1956–57 Cornwall Chevies OHA Sr. A 33 14 15 29 22 6 5 1 6 0
1957–58 Nottingham Panthers BNL 31 39 15 54 6
1957–58 Nottingham Panthers Aut-Cup 24 16 9 25 4
gollark: You have this much time to prepare
gollark: I will be returning in about 30 seconds.
gollark: I probably can.
gollark: Really? *Really*?
gollark: Well, I'm actually occasionally quite competent.

See also

References
  1. Ward, Rachel (19 March 2018). "NHL trailblazer Larry Kwong dies at 94". CBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  2. "Larry Kwong". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  3. Katz, Brigit. "Larry Kwong, Gifted Athlete Who Broke NHL's Color Barrier, Dies at 94". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  4. Yam, Kimberly (2018-03-21). "First Player Of Color In The NHL, The Son Of Chinese Immigrants, Dies At 94". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  5. NHL, "CBC targets Chinese hockey fans with Mandarin broadcasts of NHL playoffs", Canadian Press, 2008 April 20
  6. David, David (February 20, 2013). "A Hockey Pioneer's Moment". New York Times. p. B11. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. "Larry Kwong | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  8. Davis, David (2013-02-19). "A Hockey Pioneer's Moment". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  9. "University of British Columbia Library: The Chinese Experience in B.C. 1850-1950". www.library.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  10. Hawthorn, Tom (2018-02-19). "Larry Kwong: A Life that Meant Much More than One NHL Game". The Tyee. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  11. "Eyes on Cup! Trail Moulding Mighty Puck Squad". The Leader-Post (Regina, SK). November 11, 1941. p. 16.
  12. Encyclopedia of British Columbia. Ed. Daniel Francis. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing Ltd, 2000, p. 394. ISBN 1-55017-200-X.
  13. Kingston, Gary. "Crowning B.C. sports hall glory for King Kwong". www.vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  14. "Currie Soldiers Win Puck Title", Edmonton Journal, March 13, 1944, p. 7.
  15. Canadian Press. "Smokies Oust Coast Squad", The Leader-Post (Regina, SK), March 30, 1946, p. 17.
  16. "Larry Kwong Impresses Lester Patrick". The Calgary Herald. September 19, 1946. p. 17.
  17. "Olympics Beaten Out". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. October 28, 1946. p. 9.
  18. "Film commemorates Larry Kwong's historic moment". Vernon Morning Star. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  19. "Kwong Made History 60 Years Ago Today". NHL.com. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  20. Canadian Press. "American Puck Teams Compete in Two Loops", The Calgary Herald, January 6, 1948, p. 13.
  21. Hockey Club Ambrì-Piotta Official Website. "Storia del Club". Archived 2010-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
  22. Hopkins, Johnny (2 October 1958). "Kwong (Puck) Moves Talents To Switzerland". Calgary Herald. p. 50.
  23. "Larry KWONG Obituary - AB | Calgary Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  24. Goldstein, Larry (March 20, 2018). "Larry Kwong, 94, Dies; N.H.L.'s First Player of Asian Descent". New York Times. p. B19. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  25. "Larry KWONG Obituary - AB | Calgary Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  26. SONAHHR Official Website. "Larry Kwong, First Asian in NHL, Awarded SONAHHR Heritage Award".
  27. Okanagan Hockey Group Official Website. "Larry Kwong Receives First Annual Pioneer Award". Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  28. "Athletes score hall of fame honour". Vernon Morning Star. November 27, 2011. p. A1.
  29. "Crowning B.C. sports hall glory for King Kwong". The Vancouver Sun. September 20, 2013.
  30. "List of Honoured AHHF Members | Hockey Alberta". Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF). Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  31. Hockey Alberta Foundation Website."Bruins legend Bucyk highlights 2016 AHHF induction class".
  32. Greater Toronto Hockey League Website. "Diversity in our game".
  33. Davis, David (28 February 2013). "Larry Kwong remembers being the first Chinese player in the NHL". Toronto Star. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  34. "Hockey legend immortalized in film" (PDF). Vernon Morning Star. September 18, 2011.
  35. "As Boston Bruins Takes 2:1 Stanley Cup Finals Lead, Larry Kwong Celebrates 90th Birthday". bostonese English-Chinese Online Journal. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  36. "Film commemorates Larry Kwong's historic moment". Vernon Morning Star. August 13, 2014.
  37. "First China Clipper was hockey phenom from Vernon". The Vancouver Sun. August 4, 2015.

Bibliography
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  • Barman, Jean. The West Beyond the West: A History of British Columbia (Third Edition). Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-8020-9495-7.
  • Cohen, Russ. 100 Things Rangers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2014. ISBN 9781600789175.
  • Greig, Murray. Trail on Ice: A Century of Hockey in the Home of Champions. Trail: City of Trail Archives, 1999. ISBN 0-9690305-3-3.
  • Johanson, Paula. King Kwong: Larry Kwong, the China Clipper Who Broke the NHL's Colour Barrier. Neustadt: Five Rivers Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781927400753.
  • Ma, Adrian. How the Chinese Created Canada. Dragon Hill Publishing Ltd., 2010. ISBN 978-1-896124-19-3.
  • McKinley, Michael. Hockey: A People's History. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7710-5769-4.
  • Mortillaro, Nicole. Hockey Trailblazers. Markham: Scholastic Canada Ltd, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4431-0469-2.
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