Larry Kwong

Larry "King" Kwong (born Eng Kai Geong on June 17, 1923 in Vernon, British Columbia) was the first Chinese Canadian to play in the NHL.

Born to immigrant grocer parents, Kwong played as a centre and was called the China Clipper Kwong Only Hockey Orientalist, China Clipper (name later used for CFL player Normie Kwong) and King Kwong. Kwong played one season with the New York Rangers in 1947–48.

Kwong only played one game on March 13, 1948 against the Montreal Canadiens. Kwong was only on the ice for a minute in the third period, and tallied no points in the short stint in the majors. Despite this, Kwong had a long amateur and minor league career in Canada and the United States with the Troy Bruins. He also spent one season with the Nottingham Panthers in Britain before retiring in 1957.

He later became a tennis coach in Switzerland and returned to run the family grocery, formerly known as Kwong Hing Lung (Abundant Prosperity), Food-Vale.

Kwong was married twice and had one child (daughter) from his first marriage. His second wife Janine Boyer died in 1999. Retired from the grocery business, he now lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Career statistics

* 1939–41 Vernon Hydrophones BCAHA
* 1941–42 Trail Smoke Eaters ABCSL
* 1942–43 Nanaimo Clippers WKHL
* 1943–44 Vancouver St. Regis NNDHL and Red Deer Wheelers ASHL
* 1944–45 did not play
* 1945–46 Trail Smoke Eaters WKHL
* 1946–48 New York Rovers EHL/QSHL
* 1947–48 New York Rangers NHL
* 1948–55 Valleyfield Braves QSHL/QHL
* 1955–56 Troy Bruins IHL
* 1955–56 Trois Rivieres Lions QHL
* 1956–57 Troy Bruins IHL
* 1956–57 Cornwall Chevies OHASr
* 1957–58 Nottingham Panthers England

References

* [http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=356735 NewYorkRangers.com feature on Kwong's 60th anniversary]
* [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080123.BCHAWTHORN23/TPStory/National First NHL player of Asian descent]
* [http://www.tomhawthorn.com/?a=37 One minute to make hockey history]
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