CELEBRATING ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH
He was born on June 17, 1923, in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. A piece in the Vancouver Sun in 1943, noted that Kwong's dad came to Canada from China in 1898. He settled in Vernon and opened a general store. Kwong was five years old when the elder Kwong passed away.
Numerous accounts recall how young Larry, at the age of seven, pleaded with his mom to buy him a pair of skates, he played shinny hockey and tuned in to listen to Foster Hewitt call games on radio. The thought of making it in the NHL was his goal from childhood.
At the age of 16, Kwong joined the Vernon Hydrophones and proceeded to capture the British Columbia midget championship (Cromie Memorial Cup) in 1940, and the juvenile title (Monarch Life Cup) in 1941.
Impressed with Kwong's work in juvenile, the Trail Smoke Eaters of the Alberta-British Columbia Senior Hockey League, brought Kwong in as an import for the 1941-42 season. The fast skating Kwong took full advantage of the opportunity and recorded 22 points in 29 games while playing at right wing.
The next year, Kwong remained in senior hockey, but with a new team, the Nanaimo Clippers of the Vancouver Island Senior Hockey League. Early in the season, Larry "China Clipper" Kwong (aka "King" Kwong) suffered a knee injury, which kept him out of the line-up for a chunk of time. Upon his return on December 26, 1942, Kwong scored his first goal for the Clippers.
At the start of the 1943-44 hockey year, Kwong was now a member of the St. Regis Hotel Vancouver of the Pacific Coast Senior Hockey League. In the previously mentioned article in the Vancouver Sun, Kwong shared his thoughts on being a Chinese hockey player. "It's an advantage, being Chinese, I know," Kwong told columnist Alf Cottrell. "The fans like to see a Chinese hockey player as a curiosity. That's my good luck." At this point, Kwong talked about the downside he experienced on the ice as a Chinese player. "Ever since I was a midget there has always been a player or two trying to cut off my head just because I'm Chinese. And the bigger the league the bigger the axe they use."
His time with St. Regis ended on February 1, 1944, when he was released. In 17 games, he collected 16 points.
Kwong's departure from St. Regis, didn't spell the end of his season. Drafted into the Canadian Army in 1944, he was eligible to play for a military hockey team. He was based in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. In February 1944, Kwong joined the Red Deer Army Wheelers of the Central Alberta Garrison Hockey League. In the championship round, the Wheelers were swept by the Calgary A-16 Currie Barracks in the best-of-three final.
After the war, and after being out of hockey for one year, Kwong returned to the Trail Smoke Eaters of the West Kootenay Senior Hockey League for the 1945-46 season. Kwong and his teammates enjoyed a successful season, as they captured the Kootenay League title over the Nelson Maple Leafs, then the British Columbia championship over the New West Minister Royals. In the Allan Cup, Trail battled the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Canada Senior Hockey final, but failed to advance.
During the regular season, Kwong continued to show he could contribute. In 19 contests, he accumulated 20 points. In the playoffs and Allan Cup, Kwong put up 9 points in 10 games.
His work didn't go unnoticed, as the New York Rangers of the NHL, invited Kwong to attend their hockey school, which began on September 18, 1946, in Winnipeg. Kwong's small stature and lack of beef - 5'6" & 150 pounds - wasn't a cause of concern for Rangers' coach, Frank Boucher. "He's no runt and as big as plenty of men who have made good in the National Hockey League," said Boucher of his prospect.
By the end of the hockey school, the Rangers were prepared to take the next step to keep Kwong in the organization. On September 23, 1946, he signed his first professional contract and became property of the New York Rangers.
ABOVE PHOTO: KWONG AT THE NEW YORK RANGERS HOCKEY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 1946. HE IS SHAKING HANDS WITH RANGERS' COACH FRANK BOUCHER.
As expected, Kwong was assigned to the Rangers' farm team, the New York Rovers, of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League. This allowed Kwong to gain seasoning by facing a stiffer breed of competition. And, he didn't disappoint. In 47 games, he scored 19 goals and 18 helpers for 37 points in 47 games.
After beginning the next season in the EAHL, the Rovers became part of the Quebec Senior Hockey League. Kwong proceeded to rack-up 57 points, as he finished the year with 20 goals and 37 assists. This doesn't include his production when the Rovers played in the EAHL.
The Rovers regular season came to a conclusion on Sunday, March 7, 1948. Their opponent in the first-round of the playoffs were the Valleyfield Braves. Kwong was in the Rovers' line-up for their first two playoff games, the second of which was played on March 11.
Then, came the moment Kwong dreamed of when he was a little boy. With Phil Watson, Ed Slowinski and Neil Coalville, doubtful for the New York Rangers game in Montreal on Saturday night, the Rangers summoned Kwong from the Rovers. He 24 when the parent club promoted him.
On March 13, 1948, at the Forum, against the Montreal Canadiens, Larry Kwong saw his first and only game action in the National Hockey League. He was on the ice for one shift in the third period. Details of his limited appearance were not reported in the papers the following morning. They simply wrote that he played in the game, and the fact, he was the first Chinese player to do so.
This accomplishment is an important part of hockey history. In an era when there was a racial divide in professional sports, Kwong's perseverance and temperament helped him to stay on course. Although he was never given another chance to skate in the NHL, Kwong's place in the history books cannot be denied.
The Rangers depleted roster seemed to be the main reason New York selected Kwong as a replacement. This conclusion can be reached in light of him spending most of the time on the bench. In case his services were required in a pinch, Boucher could tap him on the shoulder and send him out.
"His life ambition was always to play in the National Hockey League," said Kwong's bother, James, in a March 1948 interview. "He concentrated his main energies towards reaching that goal." Also, James Kwong emphasized that, "Larry's a clean player." There is little doubt this was in reference to Kwong keeping his cool when confronted and abused by the opposition.
Next to consider is why Kwong never got another crack at a prolonged stay in the NHL. His slight frame must have influenced those who made the roster decisions. As for his skills, one article noted he was "a tricky stickhandler, speedy, has an evasive shift going in on [the] defence." Also, with only six NHL clubs, not too many jobs were available. And the question must be asked: Did his Chinese heritage hinder his progress?
After his brief stay with the Rangers, Kwong was returned to the Rovers for their Sunday tilt against Valleyfield.
Kwong's next destination was revealed on October 5, 1948, when he signed with the QSHL Valleyfield Braves. He was a Brave from 1948-49 to 1954-55. In 1951, Kwong was named a first team all-star and was named the league's MVP.
Following stops with several clubs in North America, Kwong took his game to Britain in 1957-58 for one year, and closed out his career in 1963-64 after six seasons in Switzerland as a player-coach.
The last word goes to Kwong. In a 2013 interview, he stated, "When I had a chance to become a Ranger, I was really excited. I said to myself, 'That's what I wanted to be since I was a young boy. I wanted to play in the NHL.' I didn't get a real chance to show what I can do."
Lawrence Kwong died on March 15, 2018, in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of 94.
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