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PORTAGE -- For one of the few times since fate dealt him an unlucky hand last November, Jason Lehoux had reason to sport a big smile.
Lehoux, who was brutally injured along with Martin Grenier in an attack outside a Houston nightclub last year, scored two goals and added an assist to propel Team Black to a 5-2 victory over Team White yesterday in a Manitoba Moose scrimmage before a crowd of roughly 700 at Portage Centennial Arena.
"It feels so great to score, when I scored the first one, I was like 'whoa, it feels great to play hockey.' It's been a while since I've had a big smile on my face," said Lehoux, a gritty winger who understands he's on the bubble when it comes to making the opening-night roster. "It was such a bad year last year. I got to Vancouver and my knee was hurt. I brought them problem after problem, with what happened in Houston. Even though I had nothing to do with it, it did happen and I was there. I'm still paying for it.
"I have to prove a lot of things, I have to start all over again. It doesn't matter what I did two years ago (10 goals, 21 points, 175 penalty minutes with the Albany River Rats), it's like a rookie year. I don't know what's going to happen."
With the strong outing, Lehoux increased his training camp point total to seven, moving into a first-place tie with Jesse Schultz and Tim Smith.
Jason King also netted a pair of goals for Team Black, who got a single from training-camp invitee Brad Ralph.
Alexandre Burrows, who is battling for a spot as the 12th forward, scored both goals for Team White.
As for the goalies, Mike Minard had an outstanding game for Team Black, turning aside all 18 shots he faced before giving way to Wade Flaherty at the midway point of the contest.
"It's fun when you can come out and play somewhat more of a meaningful game in a hockey atmosphere," said Minard, who will share the net with Brandon product Rob McVicar for the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL.
After spending the past two seasons buried in the Toronto Maple Leafs chain and wondering when and often if he might play again, Minard is enjoying his new surroundings.
"It's the first time in a while I've been able to come in, enjoy the game and not put any pressure on myself -- so far, so good," said Minard, who filled in admirably with the Moose during the 2002-03 post-season when Tyler Moss separated his shoulder. "There's not the mind games that were there the past few years and you just go out and play to the best of your ability."
Moose head coach Randy Carlyle was sticking to his mantra of "not-naming-names" but said several players need to elevate their games.
"I haven't felt there were any areas of large concern, other than there are some individual players where our expectations are higher than what we're getting right now," said Carlyle, who is expected to announce the first wave of cuts this morning. "There is always a period of time when the player has to get to know what the coaches' expectations are and how I expect things to be done.
"But the players have done an excellent job, they've worked hard, adhered to the policies we've put in place and they've worked within the structure. The overall effort has been very good."
MOOSE TRACKS: The Moose were planning to spend today on a team-building session and return to the ice tomorrow morning to prepare for exhibition games on Friday and Saturday against the Hamilton Bulldogs, primary affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.
