Ohio will be the site of a battle between two top 10 hockey teams. The ISU hockey team travels to Athens, Ohio, for a pair of games against the defending champions of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League.

The No. 6 Cyclones (13-2-1-1) are off to a good start so far this season and are on top of the CSCHL standings. No. 5 Ohio (12-4-0-0) is right behind them in second place.

Coach Al Murdoch said that Ohio is probably one of the toughest opponents the Cyclones will face all season.

“Ohio’s a big team, a physical team,” Murdoch said. “We’ve got to have good endurance.”

Last weekend, the Cyclones swept No. 10 Minot State in a two-game set at home. Ohio split a two-game set at unranked Indiana, losing 2-1 on Friday and winning 2-1 on Saturday.

“I kind of like where we’re at right now,” Murdoch said. “If we’re [No. 6] and Ohio’s [No. 5], we’re the underdog. We’re playing in their house on their ice, and I would rather them take us a little lightly.”

Last season, the Cyclones did not beat the Bobcats. They lost two games at home by scores of 4-1 and 5-1 and then lost to them in the CSCHL tournament by a score of 2-1. Murdoch believes his team is better prepared for the big games this season than it weas last season.

“I think we’re more prepared both physically and mentally,” Murdoch said.

Murdoch said the Cyclones have been working on and finding success in playing more consistently.

“The crazy part about it is that we are playing better every weekend, but so is our opponent, so it’s not as recognizable,” Murdoch said.

The Cyclones have won big games against top 10 opponents multiple times this season.

Sophomore Jon Feavel, who is the Cyclones second leading scorer, said that this weekend is about making the little things they are learning in practice happen in the games, but the way they prepare doesn’t change because they’re on the road.

“The only difference is that we have to worry about the extra things like schoolwork and making sure we’re ready to go on the trip,” Feavel said. “Other than that, it should be all about the opponent.”

The Cyclones play two games in Ohio on Friday and Saturday night. Both games start at 6:30 p.m.