Matthew Henry pictured here, signed with the Brandon Wheat Kings Thursday, after a strong rookie campaign in the SJHL with the North Stars in 2021-22. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

The Next Chapter

Stars standout, Henry signs with WHL’s Wheat Kings

Sep 9, 2022 | 5:00 PM

He was a fan favorite from the moment he stepped on the ice with the Battlefords North Stars last season, and the AAA Stars the two seasons prior to that, and now Matthew Henry is Brandon-bound.

Henry has signed a standard player agreement with the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, joining rarified air as an undrafted player to break into the WHL ranks, now heading into his 18-year-old season.

The Prince Albert product, said he could not be more excited about the opportunity.

“Obviously I’m super grateful and extremely happy to be a part of the organization,” Henry said. “I feel I deserved it, I worked hard at camp and I’ve been grinding since they listed me back in the fall of last year and I can’t thank the North Stars organization enough for developing me to be the player I am.”

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Henry said it was his time spent with the Stars – as a regular in the lineup in just his 17-year-old season – that really helped him take the next step in his development.

“Honestly it all started in Battleford last year; [Stars’ head coach] Brayden [Klimosko] and Chilly [Assistant coach, Garry Childerhose] really helped me out a lot,” Henry said. “I owe it to them, they developed me into a hard-working player and helped my skills passing and shooting and just really elevated me here.”

Playing all throughout the lineup with the Stars last season, Henry scored four goals and 16 points in 52 games with the team, while quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s premier forecheckers, using his truculent and abrasive style – and the odd dropping of the gloves – to finish second in the league with 216 penalty minutes.

However, while his demeanor on the ice is often one of physical belligerence, off the ice, the Wheat Kings also get a community-minded player, dedicated to giving back to the fans and making a positive impact on the community.

Matthew Henry was named the recipient of the North Stars’ Fan Favourite Award at the 2022 team awards banquet, and was a recognizable face to many in the community as a regular volunteer at team events. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Henry said as he embarks on this next chapter in his hockey career, as much as his surroundings may have changed, he’s looking forward to bringing what he knows best to the Wheat Kings, as a competitor in every sense of the word.

“I just gotta play my role, play hard and do what I did back in the Battlefords,” Henry said. “I’m just excited to get going, to get playing here and see what’s coming up against us.”

Henry and his Wheat Kings teammates open their pre-season at home Friday against the Winnipeg Ice, with puck drop at 7 p.m. CDT.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1