 Born in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Henning spent nine years as a forward with the New York Islanders, with whom he earned an assist on the May 24, 1980 goal by Bobby Nystrom that earned the Islanders their first of four consecutive Stanley Cups.In the summer of 1980 he became an assistant coach with New York Islanders.He also played nine regular season games, and one playoff game, becoming the last player-coach for a Stanley Cup-winning team.