When Jason Fairman became the head coach of the Cyclone Hockey team earlier this season, he let his players both knew there were going to be some changes.

Not soon after, Fairman began to implement his style of hockey into the program, but it was not until last weekend’s series with Lindenwood University he believed that it started to take hold.

“Things are starting to come together,” Fairman said. “I don’t want to be too optimistic because we still have a ways to go. But from a coaching standpoint, I was very pleased with [the games against Lindenwood]. And even if we had lost both games, I don’t know any other well we could have done it, because we played really well as a team.”

Senior forward Mark Huber said the No. 10 Cyclones (29-8-3, 12-6-0 CSCHL) are becoming comfortable with the systems Fairman has introduced. These new schemes focus on more team-orientated attack on the ice.

In particular, Fairman laid out finishing shooting opportunities, playing high-percentage hockey and being defensively responsible as what he wants the foundation of Cyclone Hockey to be based on.

But even though the Cyclones are beginning to buy into Fairman’s style, it still has not taken full effect since he has had only a limited amount of time as head coach.

“This is almost like are midpoint of the season,” Fairman said. “These guys are being introduced to things that they necessary haven’t seen before, but the expectations might not have been the same. Every time a new coach comes in, there are going to be different expectations.”

Understanding what is expected from them has not been a problem for the Cyclones with Fairman under the helm. Huber said players are now able to better communicate with the coaches to know how they are to perform going into each game.

“I think the biggest thing that this team has been missing for so long, that makes guys come together, is communication,” Huber said. “There has been so much more communication in the last month-and-a-half than there has been since I have been here.”

Goalie Scott Ismond said the Cyclones need to use these new methods to make a run in the postseason.

“I think it is a combination of thing,” Ismond said. “We just want to go into the [ACHA] tournament on a high note. So we got to play within our systems, practice and we know where we are going and what we are doing come game time.”

With the playoffs just around the corner, it seems like the players who adapt fully to Fairman’s ideas will get the most playing time going forward.

“[Fairman] has a famous quote, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’” Huber said. “In the transition period there are going to be some rough spots and a little bit of a rocky road. But now it is time to do the things we have been talking about for a while. The guys that do those things are going to see more ice time than the guys that don’t.”