The ISU hockey team opened its season Friday and Saturday night by defeating St. Cloud State 5-1 on Friday and 9-1 on Saturday.

The Cyclones (4-0) split the goal-tending duties between junior Paul Karus on Friday and freshman Peter Alexander on Saturday.

Freshman forward Mike Falvey recorded two points in his first regular-season game Friday. He assisted a goal by junior forward David Kurbatsky halfway through the second period to make the Cyclones’ lead 2-0. Then with three minutes left in the second period, Falvey scored one of his own to expand the lead to 3-0.

“I like playing with Falvey. He plays with a lot of intensity, and he plays with a lot of speed,” said junior forward David Elliston. “Him putting the puck in the right places tonight, it was pretty cool.”

Elliston, who is transitioning from playing defense last season to playing forward this season, had the assist on Falvey’s goal.

Falvey played last season for the Twin Cities Northern Lights of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. He was the captain of the team.

“I saw him play in the all-star game in March, and when I talked to him and he expressed interest in getting a degree at Iowa State and continue playing hockey, it’s a good combination,” said coach Al Murdoch.

Murdoch said that Falvey played with “reckless abandon” and “fearlessness” in his first regular-season game.

Falvey felt it was good to get the first couple of points out of the way in his first game.

“No one likes the goose eggs, but it was better that it was in a winning effort,” Falvey said. “It wouldn’t have felt as good if they were in a losing effort.”

The Cyclones followed up on Saturday with a 9-1 victory against the Huskies.

Sophomore Jonathon Feavel was named the player of the game with two goals. 

The Cyclones had 14 different players who notched points in the game. Murdoch said this was a sign of good depth and good balance.

The Cyclones start league play next weekend with two home games against Oklahoma.