Tambellini, Fillion spark Nelson Peewee Reps to 6-2 minor hockey playoff victory Monday in Trail

Nelson forced another game at the Civic Centre Arena against Rossland/Trail in the West Kootenay Peewee Rep playoffs. — Bruce Fuhr photo

The offence that was missing in game one came out in full force Monday for the Nelson Peewee Rep Leafs.

Reece Tambellini and Hudson Fillion each scored twice to spark the Reps to a 6-2 victory over Rossland/Trail in game two of the West Kootenay Minor Hockey Peewee Rep semi finals at the Cominco Arena in Trail.

Trail won the series opener 1-0 on the back of goalie Brett Watson.

The win evens the first-team-to-four-points series at 2-2.

Game three is Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Civic Centre Arena.

If necessary, game four will be played Saturday in Fruitvale.

Despite filling the net against Rossland/Trail after failing to score in the opener, the Reps did not have a great start to Monday’s contest.

But thanks to netminder Curt Doyle, Nelson escaped the first period with a scoreless tie.

“We started the game slow and lethargic in the first period,” said Nelson coach Brian Jones. “We were out shot 17-7 but Curt held us in there and gave us a chance to win.”

In the second the Leafs finally solved a Rossland/Trail defence that had posted a shutout for 80-plus minutes scoring three times.

The hosts managed to cut the margin to 4-2 in the third but two late goals gave Nelson the must-have win.

Taylor Cooper and Jaden Bennett also scored for the Reps.

The winner of the series advanced to play Castlegar in the West Kootenay Final beginning Sunday in the Sunflower City.

sports@thenelsondaily.com