The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey

The evolution of sports in Canada has a long history that extends back to early indigenous games and includes the emergence of more recent sports such as snowboarding and kite surfing. Initially consisting of private activities for the participants’ enjoyment and benefit, organized sport became increasingly professionalized during the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly with the development of local and national organizations dedicated to sport. With these developments, the activity of sport took on a greater collective significance and became an important part of communal life, people’s sense of belonging, and their expression of shared identity. Numerous works of fiction and nonfiction about hockey for young readers have been published, but only more recently has more attention been devoted to the contributions of underrepresented communities to Canada’s sport history.

A chapter book for older readers, Chad Soon and George Chiang’s The Longest Shot addresses these omissions in Canada’s sport history and profiles Chinese Canadian hockey player Larry Kwong who made significant contributions to the sport and inspired future generations to participate. As Chad Soon mentioned in the book’s preface, he learned about Kwong from his grandfather during his childhood years and was reminded of this individual in a news article decades later. However, little information existed in print and on the Internet about Kwong, which prompted Soon to contact Kwong himself. Through his extensive conversations with Kwong over several years, Soon learned about his life and career which began with his childhood years in Vernon, British Columbia. As a culmination of those conversations, The Longest Shot brings Kwong’s compelling story to the public, ensures that his contributions are not forgotten, and inscribes his presence within Canada’s historical past.

The book takes readers along on a journey that reveals Kwong’s lifelong passion for hockey and determination to succeed, despite the institutional barriers and people’s attitudes towards individuals of colour. Kwong’s interest in hockey emerged at an early age and was further stoked by the NHL games’ play-by-play commentary that broadcasted weekly on the radio. Despite the obstacles and lack of Asian representation in hockey at that time, Kwong was still determined to pursue hockey, and he started to practice with both his siblings and friends. He soon began playing games at his local arena and became part of the starting lineup where his talent was evident, and he quickly started to play in higher profile games. From 1941 to 1942, he played for the Trail Smoke Eaters and became promoted to their top line in his second year with them, but he had to find another team after it was shut down during the Second World War. For the remainder of the war, he played for the Vancouver Island Hockey League, Pacific Coast Senior Hockey League, as well as the Red Deer Army Wheelers. Kwong became the first player of Asian descent in the NHL when he played briefly for the New York Rangers in 1948, after which he joined the Quebec Senior Hockey League’s Valley Braves.

One of the book’s ongoing themes is that, despite his growing list of achievements, Kwong had to cope with racism and discrimination throughout his entire life. He got stopped at the Canada-US border because of his cultural background and was subjected to racial slurs and insults at hockey games. In addition, his career development stalled when he was solicited for an AHL team but was prevented from playing by the Canadian government. Despite these setbacks, he remained passionate about hockey and did not let these obstacles dissuade him from seeking other opportunities. Over time, he gained national and international recognition. After going overseas in the 1950s, he played in the United Kingdom and then for Switzerland where he scored the game winner during the 1959 Ice Hockey World Championships. In the 1960s, he coached hockey clubs and also worked as a physical education teacher and tennis pro in Switzerland. After retiring from hockey, he kept active and dedicated himself to community service. Subsequently, he was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, and Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Longest Shot highlights the significance of Kwong’s achievements for Asian Canadians and the wider Canadian public. For a number of Chinese Canadians, Kwong was an idol as it was the first time that they saw someone from their community who excelled in that sport. He inspired and helped to pave the way for other people of Asian descent to pursue their respective careers. In addition, his accomplishments changed people’s attitudes about Chinese athletes since many people thought that they were physically inferior.

Although the book focuses on hockey, the trajectory of Kwong’s life also exemplifies someone who is determined to pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles that stand in their way. Besides Kwong’s talent for hockey, readers will also be struck by his character—his unrelenting positivity, commitment to the sport, and dedication to helping other people in his community. Through its exploration of Kwong’s life, the book conveys a positive message about diversity and inclusion in all areas of societal life, affirming that people should be judged for their talents and accomplishments rather than by their physical appearance or background. At the same time, the book’s authors avoid painting an idealistic interpretation of Kwong’s life as they recognize the limitations of his success and the institutional barriers that have prevented him from fully realizing his dreams. They acknowledge the societal climate of Kwong’s era and reveal that the racist climate would make it impossible for him to sustain an NHL career since much of the public was not ready to accept someone like him because of his racial and cultural background. Even though he made it to the NHL, Kwong did not get a fair opportunity to prove himself as he only played for one shift with the New York Rangers. Nevertheless, his brief stint in the NHL was significant as he helped to break the colour barrier in professional hockey.

Using a variety of colours, Amy Qi’s illustrations supplement the book effectively by dramatizing important moments in Kwong’s life as well as depicting places and items that are significant to the narrative. Each chapter is also prefaced by a two-page illustration that contributes to the story’s progression by highlighting a memorable scene from Kwong’s experiences. Qi’s suggestive illustrations allow readers to envision that past in their own ways and to draw upon their imaginations to fill in the gaps. For example, when the Second World War begins, the accompanying illustration depicts a newspaper’s front page with the feature headline, “Second World War Begins: Canada at War With Germany,” along with a few other secondary headlines related to the war. Throughout the story, Qi’s images of objects effectively complement the main topics being covered at particular points. For example, her illustration of a provincial hockey trophy appears alongside the book’s discussion of Kwong’s victorious final season in minor hockey while a sweater with the word “Hydrophone” written on it complements the narrative’s section about Kwong’s time with the Vernon Hydrophones hockey team. There are also a number of illustrations that depict Kwong’s speed and prowess on the ice. When Kwong wins the League MVP trophy during his time with the Quebec Senior Hockey League, the illustration shows a jubilant Kwong lifting the trophy above his head while confetti rains down around him.

The Longest Shot will appeal particularly to readers who like sports stories, but it would also interest those who want to learn more about aspects of Canadian history or who have an interest in inspirational stories. The book’s language level is appropriate for its target audience, but younger readers can still comprehend the book with assistance from adults. Even if they do not know some of the words in the text, they can still glean a general understanding about the narrative because it uses a straightforward, chronological structure to describe Kwong’s life from his childhood years through to adulthood. The book also includes supplementary content that will help readers to better understand the significance of Kwong’s life in relation to the broader historical context within which he lived. The book has a timeline that identifies key moments in Kwong’s life, historical events, as well as significant milestones related to people of colour, such as Willie O’Ree who becomes the NHL’s first black player in 1958. The book’s glossary will assist readers who may be unfamiliar with certain terminology pertaining to hockey and Canadian history, terms such as “farm team”, “stereotypes”, and “color barrier”. Readers can also consult the included list of print, online, and film resources for more information about Larry Kwong and Chinese Canadian history.

With its focus on a less well-known, yet significant, Asian hockey player in Canada, The Longest Shot will be a valuable addition to libraries that want to build their collection of sports-related texts or collection of books that portray diverse cultural communities. As a nonfiction work, it would also fit readily with other books about Chinese Canadian history. As an instructional text, teachers could use this book alongside books about other historical figures who have made significant contributions to Canada and engage students in an open-ended discussion around why these authors have chosen to write about these people, what details they have included in representing their lives, and how these shape readers’ understanding of them. Although it could be grouped with other books that focus on sport, this book could also be discussed alongside other books that feature people who have contributed to different fields such as industry, the sciences, and creative pursuits. In addition, The Longest Shot could be grouped with other works that feature historical Asian figures, such as Haley Healey’s Kimiko Murakami: A Japanese-Canadian Pioneer and Helaine Becker’s Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao. To encourage discussion among younger students, teachers could make the text more relatable to their personal lives, an approach which could help to engage them and stimulate conversation. For example, they could ask them what details they would include if they were to write a biography about one of their family members or friends.

The book’s authors, Chad Soon and George Chiang, reside in British Columbia and Ontario respectively. Soon is a fourth-generation Chinese Canadian who currently teaches in Larry Kwong’s hometown of Vernon. George Chiang is an actor, writer, lyricist, composer and producer, currently residing in Etobicoke. The book’s illustrator Amy Qi is an OCAD graduate and is a digital visual development artist and illustrator from Toronto.