Cyclone hockey is unlike any athletic program at Iowa State.

The varsity university-affiliated sports, like basketball and football, receive money from the athletic department and compete in the Big 12.

Club sports, like baseball, receive allocations from the Government of the Student Body, since clubs are student-run.

Cyclone hockey is neither a varsity sport sponsored by the athletic department nor has club status. Therefore, if it wishes to raise money, it needs to do it all on its own.

One way it does that is by conducting a Call-A-Thon to alumni and supporters. Coach Al Murdoch and his crew got busy March 28-31 in hopes of raising money for the hockey budget.

“By doing this every year it helps us keep in touch with them, because they tell me that the average person moves seven times in a lifetime,” Murdoch said. “So if they move and don’t keep us up to date on their address or phone number or email, they lose touch with us.”

Cheerleaders, marketing staff, coaches and all the players took two-hour shifts at the ISU Foundation phone bank in Durham Hall. It’s the 20th year that Murdoch has put on this Call-A-Thon, aimed at raising money for the estimated $300,000 operating budget.

Murdoch targeted $60,000 over the four-day period. Unfortunately, the returns weren’t that high.

“At Thursday’s end, we got about $35,000,” Murdoch said. “$60,000 might have been an optimistic total, but we may hit that later.”

Unlike ISU Foundation phone calls, the conversations players were having to supporters weren’t strictly for monetary purposes. Rather, Murdoch encouraged the players to simply have a conversation, usually with former players that wanted to know about the season and give tips to the current players.

He said it’s not just fundraising, but also building relationships.

“Sometimes it’s kinda fun, especially if you get ahold of an ex-player, they’re usually a lot of fun to talk to and tell pretty cool stories,” said senior Jordan Pascale.

All in all, telephone calls were placed to more than 1,000 hockey supporters, mostly former players, cheerleaders and other ISU alumni associated with Cyclone hockey. Combined with revenue sources such as season ticket sales and advertising, the donation Call-A-Thon helps pay for anything from bus rides to hotel stays to equipment. Each player is estimated to cost roughly $10,000 after all those expenses.

Some of that money comes directly from the players paying dues. The players can sell advertisements or season tickets to alleviate that burden — and most make enough to cover the fees — but whatever is left must be paid for by the student-athlete.

The Call-A-Thon helps in that regard as well. This year for the first time, 15 percent of each player’s donations will go toward those dues.

But taking two-hour shifts for four days to call people can be a burden for student-athletes who are busy with coursework and projects.

“Honestly, I don’t like picking up the phone and calling people. It’s not my favorite thing to do, but at the same time I definitely understand why we do it,” Pascale said. “It’s not that because I don’t like it, but it’s probably the largest source of income we get during the season. I know how far the money stretches.”

Pascale is one of five seniors departing the team this year. After four years of calling alumni, he said is expecting that phone call from future Cyclone players who want to swap stories with him and ask for donations so they too can pay the bills.

“I won’t mind getting a call,” he said.