The University of Regina's men's hockey team fell to the Mount Royal Cougars 4-3 Friday night in Game 1 of a best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal series at The Flames Community Arenas in Calgary.

The Cougars fell behind 4-0 at one point, but got a goal late in the second from Brady Pouteau to cut the deficit to three through 40 minutes. Tanner Nagel and Mike Eskra both scored in a span of 36 seconds late in the third, but Mount Royal was able to hang on for the victory in the first ever postseason meeting between the two teams.

Conner Chaulk assisted on all three goals while Nagel and Pouteau had a goal and an assist apiece in Regina's first playoff game in nine years.

Mount Royal's goals came from Ryley Lindgren, Nolan Yaremko, Jared Power, and Kyle Walker. They outshot Regina 35-20 in the victory.

Pouteau kickstarted Regina's momentum swing with a deflected shot from the point in the final three minutes of the middle frame. Regina was able to generate several chances in the third, and finally scored again shortly after a beautiful blocker save by goalie Brandon Holtby. Nagel's goal came on a shot from a sharp angle on the power play with five minutes to go, and just over a half minute later Chaulk found Eskra who walked around MRU goaltender Riley Morris and tucked the puck inside the right post to make it a 4-3 game.

The Cougars pulled Holtby with 2:20 to go, but weren't able to come up with the equalizer.

Game 2 of the quarterfinal series is set for Saturday night in Calgary. Puck drop is again set for 7:00 PM MT / 8:00 PM SK.