While taking off his gear after losing to Oklahoma in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament, Jon Feavel knew his time as a member of Cyclone Hockey was over. But he felt like he had more to give on the ice.

The senior has been one of Iowa State’s main offensive threats in the past four seasons, scoring 135 total points during his time as a Cyclone— which was the most of any player in that time span. He also earned several awards, was selected to two ACHA all-star games and competed in the World University Games.

But now with his collegiate hockey days behind him and with graduation ahead, he is faced with the decision to either hang up his skates or try to pursue a professional hockey career.   

“If everything just fell apart and fizzled out for me this year, I’d be like, I have a little bit of closure to my career,” Feavel said. “Let’s say I make a team, I am on a team. I might play one game and find out this is good enough for me. But just having that, I just feel there is a little more I have left to explore.”

Feavel has been looking into some minor hockey leagues around the nation to see if he can find a spot on a roster somewhere and is even considering playing overseas.

However, the meager compensation players make in these leagues will be the deciding factor if he goes on to play professionally. He said he would have to sign with a team that will pay him enough to support his living expenses and student loans payments.

To make sure Feavel finds this team, ISU coach Jason Fairman will reach out to professional coaches in the sport to build interest in the Cyclone.

“One thing I want to do is give guys opportunities,” Fairman said. “I want to tell my guys, ‘if you come here, you will get a great degree from Iowa State. If you chose to play professionally, this is how we are going to help you. You will have to prove it on the ice, but we will give you the ability to get your foot in the door.’”    

To be successful in the next the level of hockey, Fairman said Feavel will have to be fully committed to the idea.

“He will have to ask himself, is it worth getting paid a couple thousand a month, taxing on the body and taking long bus trips,” Fairman said. “At one point he might just say, ‘this isn’t for me.’ But if he puts his mind to it, I have no doubt he will be successful.”

The role Feavel would have on pro team will be probably largely different than the one he had at Iowa State.

“Don’t get me wrong, he is a very skilled player,” said ISU senior forward Mark Huber. “But if need be, I’m sure he could fit right in as a role player.

“He is willing to sacrifice for a team to get the win. He is a team player.”

Feavel has not yet to make his choice on whether he will continue playing hockey or just enter the workforce. For Fairman, though, the decision is clear.

“He has the rest of his life to work but only has a short amount of time to continue his hockey career,” Fairman said. “Most of the time when guys get older, my experience has been, [they] think back and think that they wish they would of kept playing.”