SPORTS FLASHBACK 2002: Lafreniere stars in midget all-star tilt

Eastman Selects slick forward Colin Lafreniere, with a bevy of scouts looking on, showed firsthand why he is one of the league’s premiere goal scorers at the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League’s All-Star game in Winnipeg.

Lafreniere scored three goals and set up two more, as he led Team East to a 6-5 shootout victory over Team West in the annual all-star clash.

While Lafreniere was notching his hat trick, teammate Matt Neufeld also impressed scouts with a stellar performance in goal, when he went into the net for the East after 40 minutes.

Lafreniere, who has 40 goals in 37 games, the third highest total in league play, teamed up with Joe Barnes of the Winnipeg Sharks, who had a goal and four assists for Team East. Aiden Penner of the Winnipeg Monarchs rounded out the scoring in regulation time for Team East.

Rick Woods of the Yellowhead Chiefs led Team West with two goals, while singles went to teammate Matt Saler, Ryan Constant of the Neepawa Northstars and Tyler Stinton of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Team West led 1-0 after the first period and the game was tied at five after 40 minutes. Neufeld came on in the third and shut out Team West in the final 20 minutes and overtime. Joe Barnes notched the winner in the shootout.

Also named to the Team East all-stars from the Selects were Nicholas Lubimiv, Patrick Carriere, Eric Hunter and Andrew Penner, who missed the game after getting sidelined by an injury. Selects assistant coach Ivan Koop was Team East head coach for the all-star game.

Meanwhile, in their lone game in league play last week, Eric Hunter scored two goals to pace the Selects to a 4-2 victory over the Central Plains Capitals at Portage la Prairie. For Hunter, the goals were his 27th and 28th, second only to Lafreniere in team scoring.

Selects won their sixth straight regular season game, keeping aspirations of a first place finish alive.

Steinbach will host the Air Canada Midget Regional championships this year April 3-7. Should the Selects go on to win the league title, they will play at the four-team tournament as Manitoba champs. Otherwise, the Selects will be the host team. Other teams competing in the regional championship will be the Saskatchewan champs and the northern Ontario winner.

The winner advances to the Air Canada Midget National Championships in New Brunswick, April 22, 28.