With ISU coach Jason Fairman now at the helm, changes are coming to Cyclone Hockey.

Fairman, who replaced Al Murdoch as coach of the Cyclones after the longtime coach retired, brings a new style of play to the hockey team. However, Fairman said since he hasn’t had a significant amount of time on the ice as head coach, these changes won’t take full effect until next semester.

“We are looking at next semester for getting a lot of the new systems in place,” Fairman said. “I will say defense will have to be No. 1, and there will be a new accountability for guys. We are going to try and keep it simple.”

These new systems will be largely based on the style of play he learned as a player and coach at Cornell University, Fairman said. He also played for the University of Denver and in Norway, and he has a wide range of coaching experience.

By adopting parts of the Cornell style of hockey, Fairman believes the Cyclones will be able to turn around some of the team’s recent struggles on the ice.

“Cornell gets a bad rap,” Fairman said. “People think it is all defense, but it’s not. You have to take care of your defensive zone to be offensive. And we are struggling defensively right now with breakouts and such.”

Goalie Scott Ismond said the new drills that Fairman has implemented have already had an effect on the Cyclones by helping them be more aware on the ice.

This newfound awareness is helping the Cyclones protect the house — the area between the two face-off circles — which is from where most quality goals come. Ismond said this improvement on defense is to be credited to implementation of Fairman’s hockey knowledge.

“I think there is a little more hockey IQ to the way we are playing now,” Ismond said. “Everyone is more organized, and the guys are more aware out there. We are on board for what’s going on here.”

Defenseman Alex Stephens is one of those players who is on board with the changes Fairman is bringing to the team. He said it is nice to have a new perspective on things.

“It is the freshness and new take on things,” Stephens said. “It is nice to change things up once in a while.”

Ismond is expecting there to more changes after winter break, but what those changes are, he has no idea.

“I think we all have no idea,” Ismond said. “The things that he has changed here have kind of opened up are eyes as far as what our potential can be. I don’t think anyone knows what is going on in that head of his, but that’s OK. It is working out for us.”