Honoured Members

RICK (AL) HENKEWICH- PLAYER BUILDER

Screenshot 2025-05-08 at 10.29.10 AM

Screenshot 2025-05-08 at 10.29.10 AM

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.

 

 

Honourees (View All)