Peewee Leafs double Rossland/Trail 4-2 to clinch West Kootenay semi final series, now meet Castlegar Sunday in Sunflower City
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Peewee Reps took the long road to the West Kootenay Minor Hockey League Peewee Rep Final.
After rallying from a one game deficit, the Reps completed the comeback against Rossland/Trail, doubling the visitors 4-2 Thursday at the Civic Centre in Nelson.
Avery Enns scored twice to lead the Reps to the victory.
“Once again we had a slow start in the first period,” said Nelson coach Brian Jones. “I don’t think it was nerves. All season we just seem to do it the hard way.”
Nelson, winners of game two of the series 6-2 in Trail Monday, wins the first-team-to-four-point series 4-2.
Rossland/Trail won the opening game of the playoff series Friday in Nelson 1-0. Brett Watson was outstanding in shutting out the Nelson Reps.
However, Thursday Nelson continued to build from Monday’s performance.
Backstopped by the rock-solid goaltending by Curt Doyle, Nelson took a 1-0 lead on a second-period goal by Enns.
Jayden Bennett increased the margin to 2-0 before the team exchanged goals.
Enns then score into the empty net to complete the comeback.
Ben Woodward also scored for Nelson.
The Reps now advance to play Castlegar in the West Kootenay Minor Hockey Peewee Rep Finals beginning Sunday in the Sunflower City.
Castlegar won the regular season league title by a point over Nelson. The teams split three regular season games but Nelson defeated their West Kootenay rivals twice in tournament play.
Game two of the series is tentatively set for Tuesday in Nelson.
The West Kootenay winner represents the zone at the B.C. Minor Hockey Tier III Peewee Rep Championships March 18-23 in Quesnel.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
