News briefs for Monday, April 1, 2024

Perfetti’s three-point night helps Jets snap skid vs Kings

10:39 PM

Cole Perfetti began the day on call if illness was going to prevent Tyler Toffoli from suiting up for the Winnipeg Jets.

By the tine the final buzzer sounded on Monday night at Canada Life Centre, Perfetti comfortably played the role of the hero by scoring twice – including the game-winner – and adding an assist in a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

The victory helped the Jets improve to 45-24-6 on the season and snapped a season-high six-game losing skid.

Perfetti’s game-winner came seconds after Trevor Moore just missed on a shorthanded breakaway and was his 17th goal of the season.

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey had a goal and an assist for the Jets, Sean Monahan had a goal and Kyle Connor chipped in three assists.

With seven games left in the regular season, the Jets trail the Colorado Avalanche by four points in the race for second place in the Central Division.

The Jets will close out this five-game homestand on Thursday night against the Calgary Flames.

Fires at convenience stores under investigation

12:33 PM

Fire investigators have deemed three recent blazes in inner-city convenience stores to be suspicious.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said major crimes detectives will soon begin investigating the fires to determine whether there is a criminal element to any of them. If the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service finds something suspicious, the investigators will alert the WPS major crimes unit.

No officials have indicated any of the fires are connected.

The most recent fire, at the Quickie Mart at 600 Selkirk Ave., started late Thursday night and gutted the building. Fire crews were sent to the two-storey building on the corner of Selkirk Avenue and McGregor Street at 11:56 p.m. The fire was declared under control at 1:09 a.m. Friday. No one was hurt.

A blaze broke out in the J&F Supermarket, a 24-hour shop at Sargent Avenue and Beverley Street, at about 1:20 a.m. on March 20. A clerk trapped in the burning building was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Flames overtook Bestway Food Market and Laundry at Main Street and Mountain Avenue shortly before midnight on March 17. Everyone in the building got out on their own, the fire department said at the time.

Missing Winnipeg girl, mother found

9:44 AM

Winnipeg police say a four-year-old girl and her mother who were believed to have left Manitoba have been found.

The Winnipeg Police Service said the 4-year-old and her mother were last seen at the McDonalds at 979 Henderson Hwy. at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The two were believed to have headed west and entered Saskatchewan, the WPS said early Monday.

Police were “highly concerned” for the child’s wellbeing and asked anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of her or her mother to call the WPS missing persons unit at 204-986-6250. They did not explain whether the child is part of a shared-custody arrangement nor disclose where the two were found.

No Free Press print edition today

5:30 AM

The Free Press is not publishing a print newspaper or e-edition on April 1, Easter Monday.

The latest news and information is available here on our website.

For a list of services and businesses affected by the holiday, please click here.