While most ISU students rested at home and worked their jobs over the holiday breaks, the Cyclone hockey two-a-day practices got the team ready to get back into competition for the second half of the year.

After sweeping Michigan-Dearborn last weekend, the Cyclones host the Broncos from Western Michigan this weekend. Western Michigan is ranked 20 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and will be fighting for a playoff spot that goes to the top 16 teams at the end of the year.

The Cyclones, who are ranked sixth in the association, have almost guaranteed their spot in the national tournament that will take place in Cleveland, Ohio.

What concerns head coach Al Murdoch the most about the Broncos is their speed, which he plans to counter with Iowa State’s own speed.

“They are a fast team, but so are we,” Murdoch said. “I think it will be a good game with lots of end to end hockey.”

Sophomore defenseman Brady Irwin remembers the series from last year being physical, and said he expected much of the same this weekends.

“We just got to have a strong week of practice. Last year when we were up there, they were a pretty chippy team, there were a couple plays where there were a couple scruffs, but we just got to keep working hard and the rest should take care of itself,” Irwin said.

One thing the Cyclones struggled with against Dearborn was staying out of the penalty box.

“We took a couple tough penalties this past weekend. With a team like Western Michigan we have to stay out of the penalty box. They are a pretty chippy team so we got to make sure we’re smart,” sophomore forward Mike Lebler said.

The Cyclones have been concentrating on special teams this past week in practice, which will be a key component to victory this weekend, the rest of the season and into the playoffs.

Murdoch agrees the penalty situation needs to be improved.

Despite the fact that Dearborn only got one power-play goal the whole weekend on numerous chances, Murdoch stressed that the 13 penalties took up 26 minutes out of 120, and that’s too many.

“I would like to see our penalties against get down to about six penalties per game,” Murdoch said.

Irwin stressed the importance of being successful on special teams.

“Special teams are what win you games and win you championships,” Irwin said.

Heading into this weekend, the Cyclones stand at 24-5-1 with Spring leading the team with 42 total points off of 23 goals and 19 assists. Murtaugh also has 23 goals to go along with his 17 assists.

Freshman defenseman Brody Toigo continues to lead the team in assists with 25.