Jeremy Botelho is charged with manslaughter. (QMI Agency file photo)

WINNIPEG - One young man -- an elite provincial lacrosse player -- is dead and another, a university football star, is in custody following an assault at a Winnipeg bar early Thursday.

It's a tragic tale of two men -- 18-year-old victim Kelly Clay and 23-year-old suspect Jeremy Botelho -- whose promising lives have been cut short or interrupted by an alleged violent act involving a single punch to the head.

A source said Botelho, a former University of Manitoba Bisons receiver and highly touted football prospect who attended the Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp last year, surrendered to police Friday and faces a manslaughter charge. The charge indicates there is no evidence of an intent to kill.

The assault occurred inside the Nor-Villa Motor Hotel bar on Henderson Highway about 2 a.m.

Clay, a Grade 12 student at West Kildonan Collegiate, died later that day.

Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said there was an earlier verbal dispute between the victim and suspect in the company of friends.

Michalyshen said the men didn't know each other well but had a mutual acquaintance, who might be a relative of Clay's.

Police didn't comment on the motive but friends believe it had something to do with an argument involving at least one young woman and others.

Bar owner Gilbert Gauthier said Clay was standing near the dance floor when an older, larger male sucker-punched him from behind, striking him on the side of the head.

Clay fell and struck his head on the tiled floor, Gauthier said.

Gauthier said Clay and the suspect arrived at about the same time and was unaware of an earlier incident.

Friends said Clay was energetic and loved to socialize with friends, and was a talented athlete who excelled at lacrosse.

"He was always the life of the party," said Brittany Nikkel. "He was a good kid."

John Antonius said Clay had a competitive yet laid-back nature and was eager to find work after high school, where he got along with his teachers.

"One thing that really stood out about Kelly was he could pretty much make everyone laugh with his stories," Antonius said.

Friends shared their grief on Facebook, where they posted photos of Clay smiling, goofing off or posing, and in his lacrosse gear at a tournament in Colorado in 2008, where he was named to an all-star team.

Despite an all-star selection in his rookie season in 2009, Botelho left the Bisons on his own accord in February, coach Brian Dobie said.

On Sept. 11, 2009, Botelho set a CIS record when he returned a missed field goal 129 yards for a Bisons touchdown during a road loss to Simon Fraser. He studied kinesiology and recreation management at the U of M, according to a player profile.

Botelho formerly played for the Winnipeg Rifles and attended Bombers training camp in 2009. Botelho also practised with the CFL team the previous year.

Clay is Winnipeg's third homicide victim of 2010.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the homicide unit at 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.

chris.kitching@sunmedia.ca