Mission Hill Elementary School teacher, Chad Soon with a Hockey 4 Youth participant
On December 16, 2023, Hockey 4 Youth launched the Larry Kwong Memorial Program in Vernon, BC, for grade 4-7 students from Mission Hill Elementary School with the support of the Canucks for Kids Fund.
Born in Vernon in 1923, Larry Kwong became the first player of Asian descent to play in the National Hockey League on March 13, 1948 as a member of the New York Rangers.
We were so pleased that members of Larry's family could be present including his daughter Kristina, son-in-law Dean, and granddaughters Samantha and Madison.
Thank you to Mission Hill teacher Chad Soon (pictured above) for his over decade-long dedication to raising awareness for Larry's story, including leading the charge to have Larry inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder. We're so thankful for his assistance in getting this program off the ground in Larry's hometown.
Larry Kwong Memorial Program Launch (Left to right: Top row: Zameer Karim, Dan Harbridge (H4Y Manager of Operations), Sophie Gareau (H4Y BC Program Coordinator), Moezine Hasham (H4Y Founder & Executive Director), Dean Heintz (Larry Kwong’s son-in-law), Chad Soon (Mission Hill teacher), Madison Heintz (Larry’s granddaughter), Samantha Heintz (Larry’s granddaughter), Kristina Kwong Heintz (Larry’s daughter)