Feb 14, 2008

The last few weeks have been UNBELIEVABLE! We finished off a season sweep of in-state rival Iowa and took #1 ranked and undefeated Illinois to two overtime games. The good news is we played some real good hockey. The bad news is they escaped both games with 3-2 overtime wins against us. This last weekend, we split a series with the University of St. Thomas from Minnesota. In doing so, we got to see all of our Cyclones in the line-up and get a good amount of playing time.

We have finished up league play in the CSCHL and we are entering the stretch run. Our current focus is the CSCHL Tournament in Champaign, Illinois. We will be leaving tonight for a 10:00 am game tomorrow vs. Kent State, who swept us in mid November at their place. We will look to avenge those losses and move on to the 2nd round of the tournament on Saturday.

After this weekend, we will have one last home series vs. a stout Minot State team on February 22 & 23. They have been playing good competition and will give us an excellent series before we head off for Rochester, NY for the ACHA National Tournament, March 1-5. The last home series should bring the fans out and they will be hanging from the rafters, WOO!

We, at Cyclone Hockey, appreciate all of your support this season and we will look to make you proud as we enter the stretch run! It’s gonna be UNBELIEVABLE!

Coach Murdoch

Jan 21, 2008

We traveled to the Chicago-land area over the weekend to take on CSCHL opponent Robert Morris College. As usual with our shorter trips, we loaded the bus at 6:30 am Friday morning and arrived in Bensenville at 1:00 pm. Going to the arenas in the Chicago area is always great because there are always more ISU fans than our opponent. Former Cyclone Tony Infusino was in attendance as were many friends and family from the area.

The players were excited as this was our first CSCHL games since mid November and each game was worth four points in the standings. The first period ended with us tied at one goal apiece, but then we started rolling in the second. Three more goals increased our lead to 4-1 heading to the third. We came out extremely flat in the third and allowed RMC to climb back into the game by a score of 4-3. But, late goals by Cornelius and Adolph sealed the victory 6-4.

Saturday night’s game saw a much more focused team. RMC tried using momentum from the night before in the first period, but we led 2-1 after one. Our second period was not a great period, bur we held on strong defensively and managed to muster a goal to take a 3-1 lead into the third. As with all former Cyclone Hockey teams…we’re a 3rd period team and we proved it. Our composure and focus translated into three 3rd period goals and we skated off with a 6-1 victory and eight very important league points.

Currently, we are sitting in 4th place of the CSCHL and we moved up one spot in the National rankings from 12th to 11th. Our next opponent will be in-state rival University of Iowa this Friday at the Ames / ISU Ice Arena. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 pm. Saturday’s game will be our final game with the Hawks and it will be played in Cedar Rapids with the puck set to drop at 3:00 pm.

I feel we are playing very well at this point in the season. We need to work on some technical parts of the game, but we will focus on those in the upcoming weeks. The play-offs are fast approaching and we will be working hard to make a strong play-off run come February and March!

See you at the rink!

Coach Wierson

Jan 14, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Cyclone Hockey Fans and Alums! This is an exciting time for the Cyclone Hockey faithful. The second semester is upon us as we have played four games already going 4 – 0 in the New Year. Classes begin today and the players are chomping at the bit to get back to class after a very successful fall campaign.

Many of you have been involved with Cyclone Hockey over the years and have helped the program reach many milestones. Well, we’ve reached another. With an 8-4 victory over #19 Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Cyclone Hockey has reached the 900 win plateau. It seems like just yesterday this whole thing started with games in the old Des Moines Ice Arena. It has gone by very quickly and I want to thank all those who have been involved…THANK YOU!

Holding true to Cyclone Hockey tradition and being a team who wins third periods and games on the second day, 901 came on Sunday vs. the very same Central Oklahoma team. With our team trailing by one heading to the third, we focused on the task at hand and proceeded to score 7 goals in the first 10 minutes to take a 9-3 lead and secure the victory.

We will now refocus our sights on Robert Morris College, a CSCHL opponent who is fighting for the last and final play-off spot for the league tournament in mid February. RMC recently split with #7 Ohio University and was swept by Eastern Michigan this past weekend. Games will be played at The Edge in Bensenville, IL and the puck is set to drop at 7:30 pm both nights. We will return home the following weekend for an In-State rival game with the University of Iowa on Friday, January 25th at 7:30 pm.

Coach Murdoch

Dec 11, 2007

Man Alive! There were people hanging from the rafters this past Friday night as we hosted intrastate rival Iowa in Des Moines at the 95 KGGO Buccaneer Arena! The Cyclones skated off with an 8 – 1 victory netting 5 power play goals on 9 attempts. Iowa got off to a quick start which seemed to wake us up. We answered with 4 goals before the end of the first and headed to the locker room up 4-1. Our goaltending held strong through the rest of the game and held the Hawks to zero goals through the final two periods of play.

The best part of Friday was the atmosphere as we had many promotions going on. The Iowa State University Alumni Association was in strong force with close to 250 members. Friday night also marked the “Jerseys off Their Backs” promotion with MDA of greater Des Moines. Throwback jerseys were worn by the Cyclones through the first period and then auctioned off to help raise money for MDA. A little over $4,000 was raised through the jersey auction as well as bidding on autographed sticks, jerseys and pictures. All in all, it was a great night for Cyclone Hockey as we skated off with a victory, helped raise money for a great cause and ended the night with a great team meal at one of our sponsors, Hooters Restaurant.

Saturday saw us travel to Cedar Rapids for game two of the series with Iowa. The crowd was not as boisterous, but I think we still outnumbered the Hawkeye fans. Again, the Hawks jumped on us early with 2 quick goals. Our play in the first period was not traditional Cyclone Hockey style as we ended the first down 2-1. The second period saw what has made Cyclone Hockey over the years as we outshot the Hawks 21-4 and took a lead of 5-3 going into the third. Final score ended up 8-4 as all members of the team were able to make their way into the lineup over the weekend.

We now have a break from hockey as the players will finish up the fall semester with Finals this week and then head home. We will not see them again until December 30th when they report to the rink for a 9:00 pm practice. The Peoria Mustangs will be in town for the first weekend series of 2008 and we will need to be firing on all cylinders as we will look to do some recruiting from their team.

I would like to wish all those who have helped Cyclone Hockey throughout the year a very Merry Christmas and safe and happy holiday season! See you in 2008!

Coach Murdoch

Dec 4, 2007

The Cyclones have been on a roll and we will look to keep it going against in state rival Iowa this weekend. Friday night, the Cyclones will host the Hawkeyes from Iowa in Des Moines at the 95 KGGO Buccaneer Arena at 7:30 pm. It will be a huge night for us as the Muscular Dystrophy Association will be there for the 8th Annual “Jerseys Off Their Backs” promotion. Cyclone Hockey players will be wearing “throw back” jerseys from the mid 80’s. Spectators will be able to participate in a silent auction where proceeds will go directly to local MDA charities. We look for a great series with Iowa and we hope to see you at the rink!

We traveled to Arizona just after the Thanksgiving Holiday to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils. After two hard fought games, we came away with a sweep winning 5 – 2 on Friday night and 4 – 2 on Saturday evening. Players came along on Sunday as part of their education and were shown the University of Phoenix stadium where the Arizona Cardinals were playing the San Francisco 49er’s. Also on the tour were stops at the Phoenix Coyote Arena and a grand tour in which the guys were able to see the entire facility. The locker room, weight room, trainer’s room, coaches and players offices and lounges were all a part of the tour.

All in all, it was an excellent trip as the Cyclones swept past the Sun Devils. Many parents came down, which was great to see and all of our gear made it through baggage check so no one missed any practice.

We will look to finish this semester strong both on the ice and in the classroom. Two solid games with Iowa and Finals week will round out the Fall semester. The players will report back December 30th for “two-a-days” to prepare for the Peoria Mustangs.

Seasons Greetings to all and we will see you at the rink!

Coach Murdoch