Former NHL player Larry Kwong died peacefully at his home in Calgary on Thursday.
It was two days after the 70th anniversary of Kwong’s NHL debut with the New York Rangers. He was the first Chinese player to be in the NHL, and he’s remembered for helping to break hockey’s colour barrier.
Kwong was born in Vernon on June 17, 1923. He started his career with the Vernon Hydrophones.
Kwong has been recognized with the Milner-Fenerty Award, Calgary’s Asian Heritage Award and inductions into the Okanagan, B.C., and Alberta Sports Halls of Fame.
He was the 14th of 15 children. Kwong was 94 when he died.