The Cariboo Cougars will have to go on a two-game winning streak to extend their season.
They face elimination after losing 4-1 to the Valley West Hawks in Game 1 of the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League championship series Friday in Langley.
The Cougars trailed 3-0 after one period. Ben Evanish got the Hawks started with an unassisted goals 2:40 into the game and Luka Burzan connected on a power play to double the lead. Josh Bruce added to the total, scoring on Cougars goalie Dorrin Luding with five seconds left in the opening period.
In the third period, Michael Farren added to the count for the Hawks in the third period. Josh Maser got the Cougars on the scoreboard with five minutes left to play.
Game 2 of the best-of-three final series is set for tonight at 6:30 p.m. in South Surrey. If Game 3 is needed, the scene will switch back to Langley for a deciding game which would start at noon.
The Hawks won the regular season title with a 33-6-1 record, while the Cougars (29-8-3) placed second, six points behind Valley West.
