Priory captain Brent Faron and teammates celebrate the win. (Damon Bell photo)

The Priory Rebels withstood a furious Fox comeback to win the Mid-States Wickenheiser Cup, 6-4, Monday at Savvis Center.

Priory sophomore Mike Croghan was named the game’s Most Valuable Player for his four-goal performance, including the game-winner.

With the win, Priory finishes the year 17-10.

Croghan got things rolling early as he already compiled two goals by the time there was seven minutes and six seconds left in the second period. Croghan again scored with seven seconds left in the second period and the Rebels led 4-1.

The Warriors would score three unanswered goals, including a flutter goal into the back of the net off a rebound, to tie it at four.

“I was surprised they came back and got back into the game,” Priory coach Mark Faron said. “They were putting on a lot of pressure and I was hoping we would hold.”

Said senior goalie Jimmy Restelli: “I felt a little responsible and I’ll take the blame for letting them back in the game. It’s fortunate we were able to get a late goal.”

Croghan would respond immediately with his fourth goal of the game with a shot to the top right corner of the net off a rebound with 39 seconds left to take a 5-4 lead.

“We wanted to come out hard and crash and get something going and we did,” said Croghan, who finished among the Mid-States leaders with 36 goals this season. “We play good team hockey and we’ve really come together. We wanted the seniors to win the last game of their careers.”

With the Fox goalie pulled in hopes of knotting things up, Priory senior Ryan McPhail notched an empty-net goal to sew things up.

McPhail finished the night with a goal and three assists. He also finished among the Mid-States leaders with 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points.

The win caps an incredible postseason run for the Rebels, who prior to this year had never won a playoff game. Priory came into the game on a tear, winning 10 of their last 13 games.

“Since the first game of the postseason, we felt we could take it to the house,” Restelli said. “After a few early victories, we had a loss and then we were able to regain