Cyclone Hockey is heading into an unusual series on a four-game winning streak this weekend.

The Cyclones (8-4) will play Michigan-Dearborn (2-8) in a league game this weekend. The first game, rather then being held Friday at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena as is usually the case for a home series, will be played at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the 95 KGGO Arena, home of the Des Moines Buccaneers. The second game of the series will be played at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

The players feel this minor change is welcomed and will probably be an advantage for the team.

“I think it might help us because on Fridays, a lot of kids have classes so when we are on the road, they miss them, or when we are at home they wake up in time and do all that stuff and then get prepared for the game,” said sophomore defenseman Brent Cornelius. “Whereas on Saturday and Sunday, you can kind of relax and focus on the game because you aren’t doing anything else except for hockey.”

The team is also looking forward to playing in Des Moines, although none more so than coach Al Murdoch, who has been with the team since Cyclone Hockey started in 1969.

“We are playing at the old 95 KGGO Arena, and that’s exciting because that is really where Cyclone Hockey started,” Murdoch said. “Before there was Hilton Coliseum, before there was the old rink, or the new rink, our home ice was the Des Moines Buccaneers ice arena, so the guys will have to put up with old coach Murdoch telling stories about the old ice arena.”

It won’t be all nostalgia for the Cyclones this weekend. Although Michigan-Dearborn has struggled so far this season, the Cyclones still respect both the team and their coach, and expect a difficult weekend.

Murdoch will be reunited with Michigan-Dearborn coach David Debol, whom he coached with on Team USA last year for the World University Games.

Along with good coaching, the Cyclones are expecting a team better than its record suggests.

“They have got some guys that can really skate and score. They are a good all-around team, they have always had good goaltending and I expect this year will be more of the same,” Murdoch said. “They are pretty solid top to bottom and they are a pretty physical team. I like to think that we will have the edge on them on speed.”