Since the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament began, Iowa State has always been a part of it. Winning the whole thing in 1992 and coming oh-so-close to the same result last year, Cyclone hockey and nationals were synonymous this time of year — until now.

For the first time ever, the Cyclones (22-16-0) will not be attending the ACHA national tournament in March. The ranking system placed them just one spot lower than necessary, and thanks to automatic bids from other leagues, the Cyclone bubble has burst.

“That’s how it was worded for me,” said coach Al Murdoch. “I talked with the team today and said, you know, the primary reason we’re here is to get a good education.”

Whatever the outcome of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament is this weekend, it will have no bearing on any entrance into the ACHA tournament. Last year, senior forward Mike Lebler reached the championship game before falling to archrival Lindenwood. This year, the story is much different.

“It’s tough,” Lebler said. “Last year, we were runners up, so it’s a big change from last year’s team with the nationals, anyways.”

“It’s kinda too bad, you know, going out without a chance at the national tournament, but we were pretty fortunate all year and my three years we’ve gone to nationals so you gotta look at the positives.”

Iowa State had its chances, but the youth and inexperience were too much to overcome from early in the season. During a 10-game stretch in the month of October, the Cyclones finished just 2-8.

Without senior Brody Toigo all year due to an injury and half the team being underclassmen, Iowa State had to rely on freshmen and sophomores to step up. Unfortunately for Murdoch, it wasn’t enough.

“I’m trying to practice what I preach,” Murdoch said. “We’ll learn from it, we’ll grow from it, and we’ll be a better team and better individuals as a result of it. We’re a young team; we’ve known that all year, we’re heavy on the sophomore and freshman end.”

The Cyclones will play Indiana University on Friday afternoon at the CSCHL tournament in Illinois. If they advance, they’ll most likely play Ohio University. A win there Saturday means a potential fifth go-around with the Lindenwood Lions.

“This is our nationals now. This is the biggest thing we can win now. Lindenwood is probably our biggest rival right now,” Lebler said. “It’s one of the most hated teams I’ve played against since I’ve been here. It would be great to give it to them good and prove to them that we belong there.”

The Cyclones will finish the season with a home series against Northern Iowa on Feb. 25 and 26.

It just isn’t the ending Murdoch and the graduating seniors had envisioned.

“I feel sorry for the seniors. I’m proud of them,” Murdoch said. “Proud of how they’ve conducted themselves professionally, getting their degrees at Iowa State. Proud of how they played really hard and left it all out on the ice.”