Fan Favourite Henry Returns To Wheat City
Article Courtesy Perry Bergson
Matt Henry rumbled back into action for the Brandon Wheat Kings on Monday.
The 19-year-old forward from Prince Albert, Sask., wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep playing hockey, and after earning his Class 1 licence and driving a truck, returned to the team on Saturday prior to a game against the Swift Current Broncos.
The Métis forward, who was nicknamed “Hank The Tank,” took part in a Truth and Reconciliation ceremony with teammates Carson Bjarnason, Nolan Flamand and his cousin Tre Fouquette, receiving a warm ovation when he walked out to centre ice.
But on Monday it was back to work, with Henry out on the ice by himself for a session before he joined the team at practice.
“I was still working out but I didn’t skate,” Henry said of his time away. “My last time on the ice was the first period of the last game against Winnipeg. It’s been a while but it didn’t feel too bad. I had a skate this morning before I came here and kind of got a little rust out and got a little jet going. I tried my best.”
In his last game, which was played on March 24 in Winnipeg against the Ice, the stocky forward received a fighting major and game misconduct for a dustup with Ice defenceman Ashton Cumby.
Henry led the Western Hockey League with 140 penalty minutes in 57 games, fighting 12 times. He quickly became a fan favourite in Brandon, both for his feisty presence on the ice and his gentle demeanour with people in the community off the ice.
Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray was impressed with how Henry looked after six months off skates.
“I don’t think you have to question his conditioning,” Murray said. “He hasn’t touched the ice since his last game as a Wheat King so that’s a long time, and it takes some time. Overall, first day, I thought he did just fine. We’ll try to get him as much ice time here on his own as well as with the team and try to get him up and running to play at some point.”
Henry had a pair of goals last season, but his value extends beyond the numbers and how he protects his teammates on the ice. He also became an integral part of the Brandon dressing room.
Overage defenceman Kayden Sadhra-Kang joined the Wheat Kings in a trade last season, and quickly saw Henry’s contribution to the club. He was happy to see him back.
“It was definitely pretty exciting,” Sadhra-Kang said. “He’s a big piece of this family and it’s good to have him back. It was pretty funny to see him on the faceoff (prior to the Swift Current game on Saturday). I knew he was going to be at the game but not out at the faceoff. It was a good laugh.”
At practice on Monday at Westoba Place, Henry’s popularity came into sharp focus.
In a competitive breakaway drill where two players race for the puck, Henry beat his opponent and scored, earning cheers and smiles from his teammates.
“I definitely missed the boys,” Henry said. “It’s always nice coming to the rink every day and having your teammates there for you. I was really excited to come back and everyone’s been really welcoming. They missed me and I missed the guys too.
“We have a lot of good energy in the room and a lot of good energy on the ice and I’m really enjoying it so far.”
