The Waterville Senior High School boys hockey team scored three first-period goals then hung on to edge St. Dominic Regional High School 3-2 in the Class A state championship game Saturday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

The Purple Panthers (21-1-0) won their 20th state championship and first since 2001. St. Dom's, which leads all state high schools with 24 championships, climbed out of a first-period hole to make it a game, but in the end the Panthers were just too much.

Josh Gaudette scored the eventual game-winning goal with five minutes, 31 seconds left in the first period and Panthers playing short-handed.

The game also featured the return of Waterville senior defenseman and Travis Roy Award semifinalist Shawn Lee, who missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Lee scored a power play goal for the Panthers with 10:50 left in the first after Eric Aldrich scored a minute earlier to give the Panthers a commanding lead.

St. Dom's appeared headed for another letdown in the state title game, but senior forward Ben Randall scored in the second and third periods to pull the Saints (15-7-0) closer.