Hockey season finally has returned to Iowa State.

Cyclone Hockey will open its 2013-14 campaign when the Division II Waldorf Warriors come to town for two games this weekend. 

“They are relatively new on the hockey scene in Iowa,” said ISU coach Al Murdoch. “But they are probably the fastest growing program in Iowa right now.”

The Warriors’ hockey program is just entering its third year of existence. The Warriors are coached by Brett Shelanski, who has been at the helm since the program’s inception.

“They have an excellent coaching staff,” Murdoch said. “They have really been recruiting hard.”

Despite the fact that the program has only been around three years, the team is far from young.

“Their team is comprised of players … with junior experience, meaning everybody is 20 years or older,” Murdoch said.

Waldorf returns two of its top-five point scorers from a season ago as well as its primary goaltender from last season, Michael Nelson. Spenser Popinga, the team’s second leading scorer a year ago, also returns for his senior campaign.

Popinga scored 38 points last season, comprised of 22 goals and 16 assists, and while he and Nelson both return, they are far from the whole show for the Warriors.

“I know they are solid in goal, they have solid defensemen, and they have guys that can shoot the puck,” Murdoch said. “They are just all-around solid, it isn’t one or two guys.”

Even though Waldorf is a Division II team, that doesn’t mean that Iowa State is looking past the Warriors.

“We aren’t going to overlook them,” said team captain Mark Huber. “We are going to prepare for them like it is any other game.”

For ISU goalie Matt Cooper, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, he is just happy to get back on the ice.

“I’m really excited to get our team together on the ice,” Cooper said. “I just want to get the season started off well.”

The main thing Cooper wants to see his team do this weekend is play good defense, and he is right in the thick of that.

“I know we have power and can score goals,” Cooper said. “We just need to play as a unit and play good team defense.”

The goals for the weekend are pretty simple for Huber.

“Just go 2-0,” Huber said. “Just have to make sure the boys are happy and if we get a couple wins, I will be happy.”

Iowa State’s series with the Warriors begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with the second game taking place at 1 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be played at the ISU/Ames Ice Arena.