From the Canada Winter Games to the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League playoffs.

Cabrel LaBossiere played some pretty intense hockey last week in Alberta and there's more of the same this weekend as the Lorette product and his Eastman Selects teammates begin what they hope will be the start of a lengthy playoff run when they meet the Wheat Kings in Brandon Friday night in game one of their best-of-five quarterfinal series.

"To have a chance to represent your province is quite an honour," said LaBossiere moments after he watched his Team Manitoba teammate Roux Bazin score the overtime winner as the Selects lost their regular season finale 4-3 to the Pembina Valley Hawks Sunday at the Sun Gro Centre in Beausejour. "It was definitely a great event and a great opportunity. I cherish every moment of it and it's definitely something I'm going to remember for a long time."

Team Manitoba defeated British Columbia 4-2; lost 6-5 to the host province and fell 7-1 to Saskatchewan in the preliminary round.

Manitoba dropped a 6-3 decision to Ontario in the quarterfinals; beat New Brunswick 6-1 in the Relegation Round and then outscored Nova Scotia 7-5 in the Fifth Place Game.

"I think the biggest thing was that we were a close group of guys," said LaBossiere who recorded one assist in six games with Team Manitoba in Red Deer. "We battled hard. We wanted to bring back a medal but things don't always go your way."

LaBossiere said the team did get out and about during their stay in Red Deer.

"We got to watch a few sports. It's pretty interesting watching the other sports. Overall it was just a good experience."

LaBossiere's highlight of the week happened during the preliminary round.

"Even though we lost against Alberta, it was a pretty interesting moment coming back. We were losing 6-1 and got to 6-5 but unfortunately we couldn't get that next goal."

 
photo courtesy Sport Manitoba