A very successful season for the Valley West Hawks came to a sudden end in Prince George last weekend.
The B.C. Hockey Major Midget League team lost their best-of-three semifinal series in straight games to the Cariboo Cougars by scores of 5-3 and 6-3.
The Hawks, a team selected from Midget-age players in the Surrey, Cloverdale, Semiahmoo and Langley minor hockey associations, had never made the playoffs in the seven-year history of the league prior to this season. They had no trouble earning one of the six playoff berths this year, placing third in the 11-team league with a 24-8-8 (won-loss-tied) record, just one point behind the Cougars.
After the two rivals played to a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes, Cariboo scored twice in each of the last two periods for the win Friday. Austin Adam of Cloverdale, Greg Howard of Surrey and Langley’s Kyle Becker tallied for the Hawks.
Needing a win Saturday to extend their season, Valley West scored first but soon trailed 4-1. Scott Cooke of Surrey, and Langley skaters Kevan Kilistoff and Jordan Klimek were the Hawks goal scorers.
A week earlier, Valley West swept the Vancouver Chiefs in a quarterfinal series played at the Langley Events Centre.
Surrey forwards James Neil and Austin Vetterl each tallied twice in a 7-0 win in the first game. Kilistoff, Daniell Lange of Langley and Ram Brar added singles. Goaltender Steve Myland of Cloverdale earned the shutout.
In a series-clinching 7-3 win in game two, Trevor Cox of Surrey scored the first four goals for Valley West, with Vetterl, Langley’s Kyle Becker and Lange completing the scoring.
