The Cyclones will be hosting No. 7 Davenport University (7-0-1), from Grand Rapids, Mich., this weekend in a two-game series. No. 5 Iowa State (3-5-0) comes into the game on a losing skid, as DU swept No. 2 Ohio last weekend.

“If I was a betting man, I would say that they are the best team in the country,” said ISU coach Al Murdoch. 

The Davenport University hockey team was just placed as a Division I team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association this year. It was previously a Division II team, and won the championship last year.  

“With teams like this, you will see lots of older, more experienced players,” Murdoch said.  

Davenport’s sweep of Ohio University last weekend gave the team its second straight sweep as a Divison I team.  

“They are really ahead of everyone else. It will be good hockey this weekend,” Murdoch said.  

The Cyclones, who have had a string of losses, are looking at this weekend as a way to continue to improve as a team.

“The fall semester is a learning stage, but we are getting in better shape everyday,” Murdoch said. “We have sharper passing, and we are shooting the puck well.”

The team does have areas that it will continue to work on. Scoring only two goals against Arizona State in two games last week won’t get it done with Iowa State’s competitive schedule.

“We need to get more shots.  Everyone needs to get more selfish with the puck,” said freshman forward Chris Cucullu.

Another area of concern for the Cyclones is the power play. Against Arizona State University, the Cyclones repeatedly failed on opportunities with an extra skater on the ice.  

Taking on the Davenport Panthers will be a challenge for the Cyclones, but they are remaining optimistic.  

“The objective is to play hard, be tough, smart, and have fewer errors than they do,” Murdoch said.

The Cyclones will be taking on the Panthers on Friday and Saturday night with both games at 7:30 p.m. at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena. This is the Cyclones’ last home game series until the Homecoming series, Oct. 29 and 30, when they face current-No. 2 Ohio University.