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HAVERFORD >> A six-goal second period fueled by Justin Boornazian’s hat trick lifted Cardinal O’Hara to a 7-3 triumph over Archbishop Ryan Thursday night in the ICSHL Philadelphia Catholic League Blue championship at the Skatium.

It’s the first PCL Blue title for the Lions since 2010, when they won the PIAA Class 3A state championship. And it’s the second Catholic League title this week for O’Hara, the girls’ basketball team getting the job done a few days ago.

“It feels awesome,” Lions captain Jon Melanchuk said. “We’ve been waiting four years for this.”

With Melanchuk toting the cup, the Lions took a victory lap to show it off to their fans.

The win didn’t come nearly as easily as the final score suggested.

The Lions (13-5-0 overall, 12-0-0 league) were frustrated with the pace early in the game.

It was 1-1 entering the second period, Melanchuk opening the scoring on the power play.

Dominick Cercio tied it 26 seconds later for Ryan (9-8-1, 7-4-1).

Boornazian, his legs tight from playing on back-to-back nights, dug down deep to ignite the explosion that put the game away. The hat trick was complete with 7:45 left in the frame.

“I knew I had to step up and try to get the team going,” Boornazian said. “We’re just a team that feeds off each other’s energy. So I mean, that’s just how it happens. Once we get a couple we’re going to keep going. We don’t stop.”

The already physical game got chippier shortly after Boornazian gave the Lions a 6-1 lead, the Raiders subbing goaltender Fran McClain for starter Kevin Flynn.

Forty seconds later six players were in the penalty box, three from each side for a variety of roughing, high sticking, roughing and various and sundry calls.

The four-man officiating crew may have averted a worse situation according to ICSHL executive board president John Graves.

“It’s uncharacteristic of these teams,” Graves said of the mini-skirmish. “You have emotions running high. It’s the last game for many of the seniors. I thought both coaches did a good job of calming down the emotions, as well as the officiating crew.”

After the flare-up, Liam McCanney scored O’Hara’s final goal at 6:32 of the second period.

There were so many players in and out of the penalty box the rest of the way that some, including Melanchuk, were cautioned about picking up a fifth penalty in the game. That could result in a one-game suspension for the upcoming Class 3A Flyers Cup, in which the Lions are seeded fifth, the Raiders sixth.

“The other team was battling, it was a tough-fought game,” Lions coach Ed Banes said. “I didn’t love the officiating but you’ve got to deal with it and our guys were able to pull through and get the ‘W’. We’ve got Malvern coming up a week from tonight. So we’re excited.”

Melanchuk, from the penalty box, tried to be a calming influence.

“I wasn’t going to back down,” Melanchuk said. “I told my boys to stay in the game and be focused.”

The Lions listened — not that it was easy in a rough and physical third period.

“We had to settle down,” Boornazian said. “It kind of took away from our celebration. But it’s all good now. We’re champions.”

Champions. Banes, who played in 2008, is getting used to that sound.

“It’s awesome, man,” Banes said. “It’s the biggest game for O’Hara since that 2010 championship.”