HONOURING LARRY KWONG

Trail blazer.
History maker.
Barrier breaker.
That is how Larry Kwong, a man who opened the doors for so many in hockey, is remembered.
Born in Vernon, B.C. in 1923, Kwong spent many hours of his youth skating and playing shinny at local outdoor rinks. He played his first organized hockey game at the age of 12 and at age 14,he suited up for the midget team that would later become the Vernon Hydrophones. His first full season of organized hockey came when he was 15, when he joined the Hydrophones. Despite not having little formal experience in hockey and his smaller stature - standing 5-foot-6 and weighing 150-lb. - he was immediately instrumental in the team's success, winning the midget championship in 1939 and the provincial juvenile title in 1941.

At age 18, Kwong was able to make the leap to senior-level hockey, joining the Trail Smoke Eaters. In his rookie season in 1941-42, Kwong posted 22 points in 29 games. He suited up for the Nanaimo Clippers the following two seasons, where he had 12 points in 11 games, and the Vancouver St. Regis, posting 16 points in 17 games.
He was drafted in the Canadian army in 1944 and was able to play for the Red Deer Wheelers in the Central Alberta Garrison Hockey League during the 1943-44 campaign. The Wheelers went to the finals that season, ultimately falling to the Calgary Currie Army. Kwong dressed for five playoff games that spring, scoring one goal and three points.
With World War II ending in September of 1945, Kwong re-joined the Smoke Eaters for the 1945-46 season, putting together another impressive year with 20 points in 19 games, and six points in five postseason skates.
His play caught the eye of New York Rangers scouts and he was signed to the New York Rovers, their farm team. In his first year in New York, he scored 19 goals and 37 points in 47 regular-season games, and seven goals and 10 points in nine playoff tilts.
In 1947-48, while Kwong was putting together an MVP season with the Rovers where he was averaging over a point-per-game, the Rangers ran into to injury trouble and had to recall players on an emergency basis ahead of their game against the Montreal Canadiens in mid-March.
They summoned Kwong to Montreal and 75 years ago, he made history when became the first person of Asian descent to play in the NHL when he suited up for the Rangers vs. Canadiens tilt on March 13, 1948.
He was assigned back to the Rovers following his historic appearance, where he would finish the season with 86 points through 65 regular-season games, leading the team in scoring.
Kwong then joined the Valleyfield Braves in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que. the following season, where he would end up playing for the next seven years. During his time with the Braves, he was named the Byng of Vimy Trophy winner as the MVP of the QMHL (1951), was the tied as the leader in assists with 51 (1950-51), was second in points with 85 (1951), was third in goals scored with 34 (1950-51), won the QSHL Championship (1951), won the Alexander Cup (1951), and was second only to Jean Beliveau in goals scored with 38 (1951-52).
Following his time with Valleyfield, he had stints with the Trois-Rivieres Lions, Troy Bruins, and Cornwall Chevies.
The forward continued to open doors in hockey, then heading over to Europe long before it was a normal path for North American players. He joined the Nottingham Panthers in 1957-58, scoring an incredible 55 goals in 55 games that year.
He moved to Switzerland after that season in Nottingham, where he once again made history with HC Ambrì-Piotta as a player-coach, becoming the first person of Asian descent to coach in a top European league. He helped to develop the sport in Europe, coaching five Swiss teams over 10 years and starring in exhibitions of hockey against the Soviet and Czechoslovakian national teams. In addition to working in hockey in Switzerland, he also was a tennis coach.
Deciding to make a move back to Canada, Kwong and his family settled in Calgary, where he owned and managed a grocery story. He dedicated countless hours to making our community a better place, working with a number of community organizations throughout the years.
Kwong passed away in 2018 at the age of 94, leaving behind an incredible legacy. Over the last 20 years, he has won the Heritage Award from the Society of North American Historians and Researchers (2002), Calgary's Asian Heritage Month Award (2009), the Okanagan Hockey Group's Pioneer Award (2010), been named to the Okanagan Sports Hall Of Fame (2011), became an Honoured Member of the B.C. Sports Hall Of Fame (2013), and became an Honoured Member of the Alberta Hockey Hall Of Fame (2016).
During tonight's game, Kwong's family will be presented with a Lunar New Year jersey to celebrate the impact he has had on so many.
The Flames extend their deepest thanks to Chad Soon, who was instrumental in telling Kwong's story