Notre Dame took advantage of a five minute major on a Wausau West player late in the second period and parlayed that into three goals in the first 3:39 of the third period on its way to a 5-1 victory in the championship game of the inaugural Red Flint River City Meltdown held at Eau Claire Hobbs Ice Arena Saturday afternoon.

For the first 34 minutes, it was a pretty even contest--at least on the scoreboard, where it showed both teams knotted at one heading into the final period. The Tritons held a 24-11 shot advantage, but West sophomore goalie Sam Wiegert stood tall, stopping 23 of those. The lone NDA goal to that point came on a power play early in the second period.

West got on the board in the early going when Tom Kilgore ripped a shot from the slot past NDA netminder Chris Nell at 5:54 of the first. The assist went to Justin Zahn and the period would end with West holding that narrow one goal margin.

SHOTS: NDA 15, WW 5

The Tritons got the equalizer at 4:24 of the second when Jason Reynolds stuffed in a rebound power play goal from the left side of the net. Wiegert pled his case that the puck did not cross the goal line completely, but his arguments fell on deaf ears as the unassisted goal stood. The inability of a West penalty killer to clear the zone a few seconds earlier led to the goal.

Late in the period came the call that would turn the tide completely to the Notre Dame side.

West's John Feemster and Reynolds were scrapping in the left corner when Reynolds crumbled to the ice. A penalty was called, and in the ensuing referee discussion, Feemster was handed a five minute spearing major and a game disqualification.

The Tritons were unable to score in the last 40 seconds of the second, but would take full advantage early in the third.

SHOTS: NDA 9, WW 6 

It was pretty much the Tim Davison and Brett Gruber show in the opening moments of the third, as the duo combined for three goals and two assists.

Gruber gave NDA its first lead of the game when he took a pass from Davison on the left dot and fired a laser that snuck between Wiegert's blocker and the left post at 1:31. 

Just over a minute later, the two reversed roles and Davison scored from the right dot on Gruber's pass to make it 3-1 at the 2:45 mark. Reynolds recovered from his earlier injury to get an assist.

Then at 3:39, Gruber knocked in a goal from the right side off assists from Anton Brix and Mason Appleton to make it a 4-1 NDA lead.

The major penalty expired, allowing West to play even strength for most of the remainder of the period, but were not able to score against the Tritons. The pace was breakneck, back-and-forth action, with aggressive forechecking and backchecking by both teams responsible for the puck staying out of the net.

Luke Davison got into the act for NDA when he scored from the right circle to account for the final score at 10:42.

Each team had a power play near the end of the period, but couldn't take advantage of it.

SHOTS: NDA 22, WW 5

NDA's netminder Nell was not severely tested but saved 15 of 16, while Wiegert got a whole bunch of work--especially on the power plays--and kept 41 pucks out of the net.

Note: NDA head coach Cory McCracken took a puck to the right temple late in the third period, but was still able to participate in the post-game activities.