17 Facts About Larry Kwong

Larry Kwong broke the NHL's colour barrier when he debuted with the New York Rangers in 1948, playing a short shift at the end of the third period.

Larry Kwong came from a Cantonese-speaking family, and was the first NHL player from Vernon, British Columbia, and the Okanagan region.

Larry Kwong was born in 1923 in Vernon, British Columbia as the second youngest of 15 children born to his Cantonese-speaking father who had two wives.

Larry Kwong's father had immigrated from China in 1884 for the gold rush in Cherry Creek, BC, but later failed.

Larry 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.

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Larry 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.

Larry Kwong powered the Vernon Hydrophones to the midget hockey championship of BC in 1939 and then to the provincial juvenile title in 1941.

In that BC Final series against the New Westminster Royals, Larry Kwong led the Smokies in scoring and scored the Savage Cup-winning goal.

Later in 1946, Lester Patrick scouted Larry Kwong and was impressed, signing him for the New York Rovers, a farm team of the New York Rangers.

Larry Kwong wore number 11, and played against Maurice Richard and the Montreal Canadiens in the Montreal Forum.

Larry Kwong became convinced that he would not get an opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level with the Rangers, and left the Rangers organization at the end of the season.

Larry Kwong went on to have a long and successful career in senior leagues in Canada and the United States.

In 1951 Larry Kwong won the Vimy Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the QSHL.

Larry 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.

Larry Kwong expected only to stay for a year, but remained in Europe for 15 years.

Larry Kwong was married to Audrey Craven in Nottingham in 1964.

In 1972 Larry Kwong returned to Canada with his family to run Food-Vale Supermarket with his brother, Jack.