The University of Regina's men's hockey team surrendered three first-period goals and lost 4-0 to Saskatchewan on Friday night in a Canada West game at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon.

That put the Cougars in a position where they needed to rely on the out-of-town scoreboard to stay alive in the playoff hunt, but UBC's win over Mount Royal later on Friday night gave the Thunderbirds the sixth and final Canada West postseason berth.

Friday's game saw Saskatchewan's Gordie Ballhorn open the scoring six minutes in and goals by Andrew Johnson and Jeff Faith in quick succession late in the first period gave the Huskies a 3-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes. Logan McVeigh gave Saskatchewan additional insurance with a goal five minutes into the second. Jared Dmytriw assisted on the Ballhorn and Faith markers, while Taran Kozun stopped all 20 shots he faced to notch the shutout for the U of S.

Brandon Holtby got the nod between the pipes for Regina and stopped 35 of Saskatchewan's 39 shots.

The Cougars will close out the 2019-20 season at The Co-operators Centre on Saturday night against Saskatchewan as the two teams finish off the weekend home-and-home. Game time is set for 7:00.

NOTES: The Cougars will honour fifth-year players Dawson MacAuley and Landon Peel and graduating fourth-year player Isaac Schacher prior to Saturday's contest.