Notre Dame defeated #11 ranked Delano, #3 ranked East Grand Forks and were looking across the ice at #7 ranked Mankato West standing in the way of the Hilltopper Holiday Classic Title. To survive in hockey in Minnesota you need skill, speed, and physicality. Mankato West brought all three to the title game.

Both teams opened the game pushing the pace trying to find open ice and room to operate. The Scarlets carried the play for most of the first period aided by a 5 minute boarding call against Triton forward Anton Brix. Notre Dame weathered the storm but West kept pressing the play coming in waves. They finally cashed in at 11:58 when Nick Campbell's blast from the slot powered off netminder Aaron Campbell's glove and into the net. Assisting on the goal was Cole Filler.

Notre Dame didn't make it any easier on itself when it took a bench minor for too many men at 16:45. The period ended with Mankato up 1-0 and ahead in shots 9-6.

The Tritons killed the remaining 1:45 carried over from the first period and started turning up the heat pressing for the equalizer. Collin Appleton put back a rebound in tight at 3:47 to knot the game at 1 each, He got assists from Sam McCormick and Anton Brix.

Neither team slowed down, it was punch and counter punch. The teams traded penalties with Notre Dame again taking a penalty late that would carry over into the third period. It was 1-1 at the end of two with Mankato doubling down in the shot department 21-11.

Notre Dame played half the second period without Brett Gruber who limped off the ice after a neutral zone faceoff. Mankato took the lead at 3:14 on a goal mouth shot by Zachary Erickson off a left circle pass from Tyler Loe.

Gruber left his ice pack on the bench and took a shift but looked like he was laboring out there. After a check behind the Scarlet net he gingerly skated to the bench. The Tritons pressed on using him sparingly the rest of the way.

Notre Dame knotted the score on a power play rush when Appleton beat West minder Jake Spiess a second time at 8:47. He was helped on the play by Jarod Zirbel. Regulation time ended with the game tied 2-2.Mankato again led in shots on goal 30-19. Notre Dame prevailed in the epic battle at 4:27 of overtime on a Sam McCormick laser to the glove side of Spiess, He got assists from Collin and Mason Appleton. Final score 3-2 Tritons. West still held the advantage in shots 31-23.