After getting swept by Oklahoma in November, one player on the Cyclone hockey team came up with a new motto — “You got to hate to lose more than you love to win.”

This weekend, the fifth ranked Cyclones have one word on their mind: Payback.

“We’re really excited to be playing them again and get another chance at them,” said junior forward Brian Spring.

While the mood is one of excitement at the opportunity to play the only team that has been able to sweep the Cyclones this season, the team also knows that there is more at risk this time around — particularly, its place in the rankings. Because of the possible consequences of losing to Oklahoma again, some of the ISU players believe that this could be one of the bigger series of this second half.

“This series is going to be the second biggest [series] only to [1st-ranked] Illinois,” said junior forward Pete Majkozak. “Mostly because that could determine the league championship. But as far as us being together as a full unit, yeah, it’s going to be a big series.”

This will be one of the final series that the team is together as a full unit, as the World University Games take place in February. These games will force three of the Cyclones’ players, including Majkozak, to take some time off from the team.

One possible difference-maker against Oklahoma will be Majkozak. Majkozak was suspended for the first series back in November against Oklahoma due to a penalty he had during the previous weekend’s series. Majkozak, however, he believes that it will be how much the team has changed since the Oklahoma series that will lead it to victory.

“We’re better, we’re more confident,” Majkozak said. “We’re better defensively and every line is starting to find its bearings and we’re scoring more goals right now.”

The sixth-ranked Oklahoma team will be bringing a lot to this weekend’s series, particularly a strong offensive attack that is averaging close to five goals per game and a defense that is allowing around two goals per game. Those are numbers that are very similar to Iowa State’s. Spring said the team knows what to expect from Oklahoma, thanks in large part to the previous series.

“I think they’re going to come out a little better than they were [in November],” Spring said. “They know they got pretty lucky to come away with two wins by a goal each. I think they’re going to come out with a lot of energy, they’re a hard-hitting team, they’re fast. They’re a good team, they have a couple good players but I don’t think any of them really stand out.”

The Cyclones remain confident that this weekend will not turn out the same as the last time they faced Oklahoma. Spring was quick to answer why he believes the Cyclones have the advantage this weekend.

“Us being at home helps and us being on a roll helps,” Spring said. “Our team has really good chemistry, everyone’s clicking, everyone’s having fun and everyone’s doing their part to contribute to the team. The fourth lines are strong, the first lines are strong, guys are getting big hits when we need big hits. We’re just clicking right now and it doesn’t really matter who we play right now, we’re going to give it our all and I think we’re going to come out with two wins.”

The series will be played this weekend at 7:30 at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.