By Karl Friesen
In the fall of 1999, Don Liesemer Sr and Laurie Boschman came to Winnipeg and tasked me with the job of leading a committee of volunteers to bring Hockey Ministries International’s (HMI) Christian hockey camp back to Winnipeg. They gave me a list of potential committee members, and one of the names on that list was Henry Dueck. Even though Henry was my cousin a couple of years older than me, I really didn’t know him well. But that was about to change.
We really got going as a committee in January of 2000, and were planning a camp to be run the second week of August. Henry was part of the promotion team that year, along with helping out wherever he could. In 2001, he agreed to take on the role of team leader, and we knew right away that we had a special person that God would use mightily in the world of hockey. The way he nurtured, mentored, discipled and loved those boys year after year was like looking at the way Jesus would have done it. Henry was a team leader for many years, then moved into the role of head team leader in order to also disciple the young team leaders coming in to help at camp. In the last few years Henry became our on-ice coordinator, being responsible for organizing our on-ice help and helping on ice himself. It gave him great joy to be on the ice with the campers, having fun with them and teaching them new skills.
In addition to hockey camp, he was also the HMI chaplain for the Winnipeg Blues of the MJHL for the last 13 years. He also served as the chaplain for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL the brief time they were in Winnipeg, and also for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL when needed. His impact in the lives of these young hockey players over the years has been immense. He would meet with them collectively, one on one, on the bus during road trips, and at home when players would come over to his place for supper just to hang out with him. Many players continued to stay in touch with Henry after they aged out of junior hockey.
In late 2023, Henry discovered a lump in his neck, and in March of 2024 was told the news that he had a very aggressive type of cancer. God ushered him into glory on October 5, 2024. Many of us had the privilege of reading some of the messages Henry received from the players he impacted either at camp or as a chaplain. The outpouring of love, admiration, respect, and encouragement was unbelievable. Players would write that it was because of Henry that they became Christians. They told him how Henry brought them back to faith in God. Some said that they were not living the way they should be at the moment, but remembered what Henry had taught them and how they want to get back on the right path again. He received messages from parents of players who were so thankful to Henry for helping their son back on the path of following Jesus. Countless messages from players who were impacted by Henry’s life came into his phone every day. One player made a point of calling Henry to say that they were expecting a baby boy and that they were going to name him after Henry. I really came to understand the wideness of Henry’s influence when I saw the athletic therapist of the Winnipeg Blues spend her entire week of holidays being by Henry’s bedside every day while he was in emergency. This is the kind of love people had for this man of God.
Henry had a great deal of support these last months. His hospital room was filled with pictures people brought and pictures the grandkids drew. Obviously, the biggest support came from his wife Sandy, and his children and grandchildren. They were ever present, and they never stopped telling the doctors, nurses, aids, and hospital support staff about Jesus. When he was admitted to the palliative care facility where he would spend the last 2 weeks here on earth, I heard Sandy say to Henry, “I guess there are people here that need to hear about Jesus”. They lived the Great Commission!
The mission of HMI was formulated best by former NHLer Chico Resch, "Today a church is not only a dwelling or building, but also something much more fluid. Sometimes the church is a rink, locker room, hotel lobby or an encounter that takes place on the ice." Whether in a rink, a dressing room, or on the bus, Henry was a true ambassador for Christ in the world of hockey. He was a passionate follower of Jesus. He was passionate about telling others about Jesus. He was a passionate husband, father and grandfather. He was a great friend. He was my friend. He will be greatly missed.
