The St. Paul's Crusaders are the top high school hockey team in Manitoba for a second straight year.

Connor Stewart and Dylan Moll each scored twice, as the Crusaders cruised past Winnipeg's Vincent Massey Trojans 8-4 in the Manitoba High School Athletics Association MILK 2017 Provincial Championship game Monday night at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie.

Stewart, the Crusaders' captain, was named tournament MVP.

"Our team this year has worked so hard and it hasn't been an easy road to get to this," Stewart says. "It's been absolutely awesome. We had contributions from everybody and it's been an awesome experience."

"This is my last high school hockey game ever so it was really nice to go off on a high note."

The St. Paul's Crusaders celebrate after capturing a second straight MHSAA Provincial High School Hockey Championship. St. Paul's defeated Vincent Massey 8-4 at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie on March 13. (photo by Matt Hermiz)

Kieran Guttormson, Ethan Lewis, Kieran Ursel and Brennan Ostir also added goals for St. Paul's. Jared Bucci, Mason Froese, Skylar Tremblay and Trevor Rusnak tallied for the Trojans.

Stewart, Lewis and Moll scored second period goals to break open a 2-2 game, giving the Crusaders a 5-2 lead. Tremblay responded for Vincent Massey late in the middle frame to cut the Crusaders' lead to 5-3.

But Ursel and Ostil would add goals for St. Paul's in the opening minutes of the third to put the defending champions ahead 7-3. Rusnak scored for the Trojans with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation. But, despite pressuring, Vincent Massey struggled get shots through to the Crusaders' net. Moll would add an empty-netter with 1:07 remaining.

Eric Samyn made 19 saves in the win, while Zak Bannatyne stopped 25 taking the loss. St. Paul's outshot Vincent Massey 33-23.

The Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) Trojans were the host team and one of six competing in the 2017 MILK Provincial Championships, but failed to advance out of the group stage.