Winnipeg players sure to remember the Alamodome

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Colt Conrad

AAA hockey stars

Colt Conrad of the Pembina Valley Hawks had a dream week -- nine points in two games -- and was chosen the Chicken Chef West Division player of the week in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.

In helping the Hawks push a winning streak to five games, Conrad had three goals and three assists in an 8-6 win Friday, then had a goal and three points in a 6-4 win on Saturday.

The St. Alphonse native is up to 17 goals and 44 points on the season, fourth in league scoring.

The Dekalb East Division player of the week award went to Brent Aiken of the Kenora Thistles.

The 17-year-old from Thunder Bay had two goals, including a game-winner, and three assists over three games, all wins. Aiken, a key special-teams player for the Thistles, shares the team scoring lead with Evan Mignault, both at 26 points.

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Brent Aiken

TAILBACK Brady Oliveira and centre Matthew Kaneski, both of Winnipeg, have been chosen to participate in the third annual U.S.A.-Canada Youth Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

The game, to be played in the Alamodome on Jan. 5, is part of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl schedule, which features top American high school players. The U.S.A.-Canada Youth Bowl is one of several Eastbay Youth all-star games over that weekend in San Antonio.

Oliveira and Kaneski were chosen by a staff of coaches who scouted then recommended players, filing shortlists and game film to Team Canada Under-15 coach Paul Orazietti of the University of B.C. Thunderbirds.

Oliveira is a Grade 10 student at Oak Park. The Raiders' rusher was named rookie of the year in the AAA division of the Winnipeg High School Football League.

Kaneski, a Grade 9 student at St. Paul's, was chosen his team's rookie of the year in the Crusaders' AA varsity team in 2012. In 2011, he was lineman of the year with the St. Vital Mustangs minor bantam team.

He has also previously participated in football camps in the U.S. in Chicago and L.A. and played in last winter's O-D Bowl in Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

"It feels surreal," Oliveira said of his selection. "I've been so excited since learning I was selected to play on the All-Canadian Team that I've been having trouble sleeping."

Kaneski said he was pumped about the Canada-U.S. format of this year's action.

"Last year it was amazing to play in Dallas Cowboy Stadium and raise my helmet in victory at the end of the game," he said. "But being a Canadian it would mean so much more to beat the Americans at their game on U.S. soil."

Canada and the U.S. each have a victory in the first two U.S.A.-Canada Youth Bowls.

Both players have continued to train since their local seasons ended, and for good reason.

Media, recruiters and scouts from many college programs have attended the bowl's activities, which include practices, skills competitions and break-out sessions with Hall of Fame players.

Streaking Steelers' sniper top gun

AN eight-point week by Hudson Friesen of the Selkirk Steelers was good enough for the Recycle Everywhere MJHL Player of the Week award.

The 19-year-old skater had two goals and six assists in a three-game week for the streaking Steelers, who have won five straight and shared top spot in the Division with the Winnipeg Blues.

Big week for Hawks blue-liner

A five-point week and a plus-six rating earned Kate Friesen of the Pembina Valley Hawks the Selkirk Keystone Source for Sports player of the week award in the Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League.

Friesen, who plays defence, helped the Hawks to three wins over the week with a goal and four assists.

The Grade 10 student from Altona has 18 points on the season through 30 games, and is a plus-16.

Friesen, Hollins players of week

KAYLA Friesen of the Dakota Lancers and Emily Hollins of the Westwood Warriors are the players of the week in the Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League.

Friesen had two goals in the final game to close out the first half of the Lancers' season, earning honours in the CTV Division A.

She has tallied 33 points, including 22 goals, in the first half.

Hollins was a key player for the Warriors, adding an assist in each game, as they closed out the first half with a tie with Miles Mac and a win over the Selkirk Royals.

— Staff

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 27, 2012 D4