After outscoring Missouri 13-5 in the opening series, the Cyclone hockey team aims to continue its success against Missouri State this weekend.

Missouri State, who won the ACHSA championship two seasons ago, could give the Cyclones trouble with its physical play.

“They’ve got real physical defensemen,” coach Al Murdoch said. “They’ve also got solid goaltending so we will have to get after their goaltender early and often as well as play their guys man to man, get up in their bodies.”

Junior defenseman Adam Mueller also thinks the Cyclone’s speed will help counter their physical play.

“They can try to hit us all they want, but it’s not going to do any good if they can’t touch us,” Mueller said.

The Cyclones also displayed their speed and depth against the Tigers and hope to continue that against the Ice Bears. Murdoch mentioned that the players recognized how deep we were last series and that we’ve got good speed.

“The guys have been working real hard and I think that will pay dividends against Missouri State,” Murdoch said.

Junior Derek Berhman led the Cyclones in the closing game against Missouri with a hat trick.

“I’m just going to go out there and play hard and whatever happens, happens. I’m not expecting to score a lot of goals every week, but I try to chip in where I can,” Behrman said.

 Despite the dominating performance, there are some things that Murdoch and the players think that need to improve.

“The penalty killing and power play need to get better and they will be better,” Berham said. “I also think just another week of practice will help build team chemistry, so that will help.”

Behrman also mentioned that they would use their speed as well as their physicality to help counter Missouri State’s physical defensive line.

Having not played the Ice Bears in recent years, the Cyclones don’t know what to expect.

“We’ve got to get ready for them just like any other team, but we don’t really know what to expect going in,” Mueller said. “At the same time, there aren’t too many teams who can come into our barn and beat us.”

The Ice Bears also start their first season under head coach Mike Schroeder. Schroeder accepted the position after Benjamin Alexander, who coached the team since 2001, resigned at the end of last season. Schroeder has coached travel teams in the St. Louis, Mo. and Atlanta, Ga. areas for 11 years and has coached three teams in the USA hockey national championship tournaments and holds a level three USA hockey coaching certification.

Cyclones Chris Mackay and Jason Pacheco both went down with injuries in the opening series, a tweaked knee and a slashing injury respectively, but should be ready to play this weekend.