Larry Kwong

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 Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Playing career 1941–1959

Lawrence Kwong (born Eng Kai Geong; simplified Chinese: 吴启光; traditional Chinese: 吳啟光; pinyin: Wú Qǐguāng; Cantonese Yale: Ǹgh Káigwōng; June 17, 1923 – March 15, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who was the first player of Asian descent in the National Hockey League (NHL),[1] playing a short shift at the end of the third period. He was the NHL's first player who was neither white, nor Aboriginal North American, debuting ten years before Willie O'Ree. 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.

Kwong came from a Cantonese-speaking family, 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".[2]

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.

  1. ^ Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (2023-04-25). "Breaking Racial Barriers in the National Hockey League National Historic Event". parks.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference davis1947 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).