A 10 point difference in the conference standings didn't scare the Elmira Sugar Kings Friday night in Listowel.
As soon as the opening face-off was dropped, Elmira went straight to work pressing hard in the offensive zone and played very physical in the defensive end.
Elmira forward Ty Biles scored the first goal of the game 2:06 into the first period setting the tone of what was to come.
After Elmira chipped in goal number two, courtesy of captain Jeff Jordan, Listowel was able to regroup. Chayse Herrfort cut around the Elmira net and after being tripped was able to slide the puck to the front of the net to a waiting Brady Anderson who fired it by Sugar Kings goalie Jonathon Reinhart. That goal coming with just over five minutes left in the first period.
But that would be it for awhile for the Cyclones offense as Elmira built up a lead. Mitch Hoelscher scored 31 seconds into the second period then chipped in another on the power play with under five minutes to play in the second to extend Elmira's lead to 4-1. Jacob Buch scored with just 10 seconds left in the period to put major pressures on Listowel.
The back breaker came early in the third as Hoelscher netted his hat trick just over a minute into the third period to give Elmira a 6-1 lead.
The Listowel Cyclones scored a couple of quick ones before the midway point of the third. Both coming on the power play from Jakob Lee and Max Coyle but that was all Listowel could muster.
The Cyclones did have a 5-on-3 power play opportunity at the midway point of the period and at that time the score was 6-3 but Elmira's penalty kill held.
Elmira out shot Listowel 35-34.
The Sugar Kings picked up their 25th win of the season and sit eight points behind the Midwest Conference leaders. While Listowel does hold the lead, they have played two more games than Elmira.
Listowel travels to Guelph on Sunday for a 2:00pm tilt while Elmira is scheduled to host Brantford Sunday night at 7:00pm.