Return engagement
Rob Hennigar comes out of retirement to rejoin Cataracts in quest for Allan Cup
Considering he did just about everything in the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League last season — MVP, top scorer in the regular season and playoffs, and Herder Memorial Trophy champion — you could understand why the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts were anxious to get Rob Hennigar back in the fold for the Allan Cup tournament.
Thing is, however, Hennigar didn’t play at all this season. In fact, his first game came Monday night in a 5-3 win over the Dundas Real McCoys in the opening game of the Canadian senior hockey championship.
“I only put on the gear twice this year, and that was my first game since the last game of the Herder last year,” Hennigar said prior to the a Cataracts’ off-day skate Tuesday at the Eastlink Events Centre.
“I felt pretty good. It’s cliche, but you have to take it one shift at a time. Today in practice, I hope to feel better than yesterday, and hopefully in our next game, I feel better again.”
After a five-year pro career — one that included 40 games in the American Hockey League with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Albany River Rats, and two sea- sons overseas in Italy and Germany — Hennigar signed on with the Cataracts last season.
Then a dream job came about: as an assistant coach with his alma mater, the University of New Brunswick men’s hockey team. He played four years with the Varsity Reds, including the national championship 2007 season. Prior to that, the 32-year-old Ontario native spent four years with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires.
“Oh yeah, absolutely,” he said when asked if working on coach Gardiner McDougall’s coaching staff has quenched the thirst of playing the game.
“It’s a little different, but at same time it was time for me to make a decision with a family, and I couldn’t ask for a better job. Hockey has been part of my life since the age of five, and to get right back into it as a full-time profession, it’s been fantastic.
“Hockey is really the only thing I know. I have my degree, so that helps me, but staying in hockey is always something I’ve wanted to do.
“I know the ins and outs of UNB hockey. I know everyone there, I played under coach McDougall, I know the staff, the athletic director, and my wife played basketball there. So it’s been an easy transition.”
Coaching, and all the responsibilities that comes with it, has not led Hennigar to think much about playing. But he’s been on the skates, obviously, and he’s managed to keep himself in good shape.
“But it’s tough when you have a full-time job,” he said. “It’s not like it used to be when hockey was the only thing in my life. Being on the ice does help, I guess, but it’s obviously not the same.
“It took a while to get my legs (Monday), but not only that, the game moves a bit quicker than what you’re used to. I’m not used to the pace, so that took a while getting adjusted. Hopefully I’ll get my legs under me quick, because this is a short-term tournament.”
Hennigar was in contact with Brian Casey — one of the movers and shakers within the Cataracts organization — at times throughout the season, and wasn’t overly surprised when invitation was extended to join the team for the Allan Cup.
It helps that he was an integral part of last year’s squad, meaning he’s not coming in and upsetting team chemistry.
“I’m just trying to slide in there and not disrupt things too much,” he said. “It’s nice to come back and tie it all up.”
The Cataracts play their second game of the Allan Cup 4 o’clock this afternoon against the South East Prairie Thunder of Steinbach, Man.