Cyclone Hockey will try to remain undefeated in conference play this weekend against the team that ended its season last year, the Ohio Bobcats.

The No. 5 Cyclones (10-1-1, 2-1-0 CSCHL) split their two regular-season games in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League last year against the No. 13 Bobcats (7-2-1). But it is the loss to the Bobcats in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s national tournament that the Cyclones remember most.

In this weekend’s series against the Bobcats, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 p.m. at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, the Cyclones hope to even the score.

“It is really exciting to go out there and have that kind of motivation, have that chip on your shoulder and really get at them,” said Cyclone goalie Matt Cooper, when asked about this weekend’s series.

ISU assistant coach Jason Fairman said if the Cyclones are going to exact their revenge on the Bobcats that the team needs to be more disciplined on the ice. Freeman pointed to last Saturday’s game against the Williston Tetons, where the Cyclones lost in overtime due to a penalty.

“We just have to play our game against Ohio,” Fairman said. “We haven’t been very disciplined lately. In the last four games, we have taken penalties late in the game.”

ISU assistant coach Brandon Clark shares Fairman’s concerns. Clark said the Cyclones need to control their mental mistakes, and that the Cyclones will need to stay focused to beat Ohio.

“Ohio is just a team that competes,” Clark said. “In the past, when [Ohio] came to Ames or when we have gone there, they always are ready to compete. They really are able to capitalize on team’s mistakes. So that’s something that we have to keep in mind this week.”

Cooper said that if the Cyclones don’t stay focused and create penalty opportunities for the Bobcats, the Bobcats will exploit their mistakes.

Cooper added that the Cyclones will have to limit the Bobcat’s opportunities in the defensive zone, such as two-on-ones and breakaways, to keep them contained.

Clark said the Cyclones have been working on creating scoring chances and puck protection this week in practice to gain an edge over the Bobcats.

Along with an emphasis on scoring, Cooper said this weekend’s series against the Bobcats will be physical.

“I’m hoping that once we get out on the ice that we just start banging bodies right away,” Cooper said. “We need to send them the right message starting in the first period.”

The Cyclones may want to avenge their loss to Bobcats in their upcoming series, but Clark said the Cyclones are focused on winning no matter who their opponent is.

“People talk about getting payback a lot in sports,” Clark said. “I don’t know if this is payback, but we do owe them for those losses last year.”