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Former 'Bellie great headed to the hall

Tsawwassen resident Larry Henry starred for New West in 60s and 70s helping franchise capture four Mann Cup titles
lacrosse
Larry Henry will still toss the ball around in the family driveway with his grandson Quinn Ridley. The Tsawwassen resident will be inducted in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame next month after a decorated career with the New West Salmonbellies.

As a high-scoring member of the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the 1960s, Larry Henry had celebrity status in the Royal City.

Box lacrosse was at the height of its popularity with typically 4,000 crammed into Queen's Park Arena on game nights to watch their hometown heroes annually be among the heavyweights of the Western Lacrosse Association.

"I would walk down the street and strangers would come up and talk to me," recalled Henry. "They just wanted to say hi or wish me luck in our next game. I guess they recognized me. New West was quite the sports city back then."

Henry will get a chance to relive his glory years one more time when the 70-year-old Tsawwassen resident is inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame next month. The 2013 class features two builders, five box and two field players, along with the 1958-59 and 1962 Salmonbellies in the team category.

The builders include another local resident, Ron Crosato, who worked as an official for over 30 years.

Appropriately, the hall of fame is located within walking distance of Queen's Park where Henry did much of his damage as a player.

After an outstanding career with the Junior Salmonbellies that featured a Minto Cup win, he went on to play 11 seasons with the senior team, amassing 313 goals and 294 assists. Along the way, there were four Mann Cup national titles. He also played professionally in 1968 when New West was part of the of the old National Lacrosse Association and defeated Detroit in the finals.

Henry was already inducted into the hall back in 2004 when the Salmonbellies were recognized in the team category. What makes his lacrosse resumé even more impressive is he didn't take up the game until he was 14.

"We were living in Surrey at the time and my brother Jack went over to play there and I just followed him," said Henry. "It was a very competitive program and considered quite the thing at the time to play with the New West guys."

What Henry may have lacked in size with his 5-foot-9 and 155-pound frame, he more than made up for as a relentless checker and dangerous offensive talent. He used his stature to his advantage to flourish against larger opponents.

"I was fast," he laughed. "And when I wasn't using my speed I used the other tricks in the trade to get myself open or to the net."

During his career, Henry worked as a clerk in the produce department at Shop Easy stores. Lacrosse was a four day a week commitment between games and practices. He always ran on his off-days as well.

There were still plenty of miles left on his odometer when he retired at 33. It was a difficult decision but a necessary one to spend more time with his family. His son Shane was a promising athlete that went on to play minor pro hockey. Henry coached him in hockey and lacrosse, including as an assistant coach with the Junior B Hockey Grandview Steelers.

"I could have played for another couple of years," he added. "But I went out winning a Mann Cup and my son was a good upand-coming athlete and I wanted to have the time to help him out."

Henry is part of an extended family that has made quite an impression on the lacrosse community in Delta. His brother Gord was involved with the Delta Islanders organization for many years with his sons Gord Jr. and Steve being standout players. Gord Jr's son Mike Henry is now captain of the Junior "A" Islanders. It makes for one big celebration for Larry's upcoming special evening.

Boxla bits... Ron Crosato began as an Intermediate and Junior lacrosse referee in 1976. Over the next 30 plus years, he officiated in 11 Mann Cup and eight Minto Cup series; as one of two referees selected for the lacrosse demonstration at the 1978 Commonwealth Games; and officiated in the final game at the Nations '80 World Box Lacrosse championships.

In 1995, he packed away his whistle to watch his son Brent compete with the powerful Burnaby Lakers Junior club. He took over the chores of team manager and equipment manager. Near the end of his career, Crosato was hired by the professional National Lacrosse League (2001-10) as an on-floor official. Allocator, Clinician and Senior No other WLA referee has handled as many games at the Senior 'A' level. Crosato is also a member of the Burnaby Sports and St. Thomas More Collegiate Sports Halls of Fame (2007).