RICK (AL) HENKEWICH- PLAYER BUILDER

Rick took to lacrosse “like a duck to water”. His basketball skills and his natural abilities developed through track and field made him a “natural” for the game of lacrosse. Rick jumped in with both feet- playing, coaching, and officiating from 1970- 1973. Rick was a strong defensive player, who could contribute to the team’s offense. Being a hound for loose balls, his contribution to offensive was often in the form of assists. The Winnipeg Free Press did note a number of games in his junior/ senior career where he scored two goals in one game. The Press also talked about two games where after scoring two goals he went on to play goal to preserve the victory.

Rick has been a tireless worker for the game of lacrosse in North Winnipeg and Manitoba. Not only was he a key organizer and coach for Kings/ Falcons lacrosse, he provided space in his business to store the equipment in the off season. While he may have had a formal position with the organization, he was there to do whatever needed to be done.

Summary of Rick’s involvement in lacrosse:

PLAYER
• 1970– Inaugural Nor’ Westers Midget team
• 1971– Boyd Park Nor’ Westers team (called up to play on junior team)
• 1972– Boyd Park Nor’ Westers Juvenile team
• 1973– Boyd Park Nor’ Westers Junior team
• 1974- 1984 Transcona/ East Kildonan North/ Stars Senior team

– 1985 Playing/ coach Winnipeg Warriors
• 1980- 1990- Winnipeg Old Times vs. Thompson Old Timers

COACH
• 1971– Boyd Park house league
• 1972– Boyd Park Pee Wee’s
• 1974-1975 Boyd Park Midget team
• 1976- 1979 Winnipeg Warriors Junior team
• 1985– Winnipeg Warriors Senior team (playing/ coach)
• 2003 -2007– Falcons Midget team
• 2010-2024- Discover Lacrosse Instructor for the Falcons

VOLUNTEER
• 1969 – 1971– Fund raiser Nor’ Westers
• 1971-1973– Minor lacrosse league referee
• Two years as a board member for Red River Lacrosse Association (exact years not know)
• 1980’s– Scheduler for Junior/ Senior Leagues
• 1995- present– Member of the Manitoba Lacrosse Alumni
• 2013– Corporate sponsor of the Manitoba Selects Founders Cup team
• 2016- 2022- Member of Manitoba Lacrosse Hall of Fame Selection committee

Championships and achievements:

• 1971– Junior provincial champs Boyd Park Nor’ Westers
  • 1976– Selected (as both forward and goalie) for the Manitoba Senior All Stars to compete in Presidents’ Cup (Bronze Medal)
  • 1977– Selected for the Manitoba Senior All Stars to compete in western play downs in Saskatoon (won right to represent western Canada in Presidents’ Cup
  • 1977– Selected for Manitoba Senior All Stars to compete in Presidents’ Cup in Edmonton
  • 1978– Picked up by Nor’ Westers to play in Presidents Cup in Vernon
  • 1979- 81 Coached Winnipeg Warriors in Founders Cup
  • 1985– Coached Winnipeg Warriors Senior team in Presidents’ Cup

Rick’s basketball skills and his natural abilities developed through track and field made him a “natural” for the game of lacrosse. Rick jumped in with both feet- playing, coaching, and officiating from 1970- 1973. Rick was a strong defensive player, who could contribute to the team’s offense. Being a hound for loose balls, his contribution to offensive was often in the form of assists. The Winnipeg Free Press did note a number of games in his junior/ senior career where he scored two goals in one game. The Press also talked about two games where after scoring two goals he went on to play goal to preserve the victory.

Rick has been a tireless worker for the game of lacrosse in North Winnipeg and Manitoba. Not only was he a key organizer and coach for Kings/ Falcons lacrosse, he provided space in his business to store the equipment in the off season. While he may have had a formal position with the organization, he was there to do whatever needed to be done.

Rick has been a tireless worker for the game of lacrosse in North Winnipeg and Manitoba. Not only was he a key organizer and coach for Kings/ Falcons lacrosse, he provided space in his business to store the equipment in the off season. While he may not have had a formal position with the organization, he was there to do whatever needed to be done.