Byron Elliott scored three goals as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s hockey team defeated the Queen’s Gaels 7-3 on Friday, January 8 at Kingston Memorial Centre.

The Blues improve to 7-7-3 and sit in fifth place in the OUA East division with one game in hand over the fourth-place Gaels.

Elliott (Burlington, Ont.), along with first-year defenceman Tyler Turcotte (St. Catharines, Ont.) and second-year forward Paul Dupont (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) tallied three points, while fifth-year veteran Joe Rand (Hamilton, Ont.) had two goals and two assists in the victory.

Rand opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the game and added his second less than two minutes later to give the Blues a quick 2-0 lead. Both goals were assisted by Dupont and Turcotte.

Elliott notched his first goal of the game at the midway point of the first period before Jonathon Lawrance (Steinbach, Man.) got the Gaels on the board with a short handed goal of his own.

Elliott added his second marker on the powerplay 14:17 minutes in to give the Blues a 4-1 lead heading into the second period.

Gaels forward David Fitzpatrick (Thunder Bay, Ont.) narrowed the gap to two at the 4:45 minute mark of the second period, however second-year forward Bryden Teich (Toronto) responded with a shorthanded goal less than four minutes later.

Dupont garnered his third point with a goal at the midway point of the game as Toronto held a commanding 6-2 lead after two periods of play.

Elliott would secure his hat trick performance just 2:09 into the third period off the sticks of Kay and Blues captain Brendan Sherrard (Etobicoke, Ont.).

Ben Munroe (Kingston, Ont.) tallied Queen’s last goal at the 6:43 mark, however Toronto would skate away with their seventh win of the season.

Blues goaltender Russ Brownell (Oakville, Ont.) made 24 saves in the victory.

The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow night when they travel to North Bay, Ont. to take on the Nipissing Lakers. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.