Cyclone Hockey will play outside the state of Iowa for just the second time this fall when it meets Eastern Michigan for two conference road games this weekend.

Eastern Michigan (6-8-0) is currently ranked No. 17 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association poll but has lost five of its last six games. The Eagles have struggled on the road but boast a 5-2-0 record at home in Ypsilanti.

“Eastern Michigan plays like a No. 17 team on the road,” said coach Al Murdoch.

“But when they’re at home, they’re very tough and play more like a team that belongs in the top 10.”

Following this weekend’s series, the No. 6 Cyclones will face another road test when they travel to Fargo, N.D., to take on the North Dakota State University Bison. NDSU is winless in seven games this season and has lost five straight since tying the Cyclones in Ames on Sept. 30. The Cyclones embarrassed the Bison, 11-3, in game one of the series but slipped to a 4-4 tie in the second game.

The upcoming series, on Nov. 24 and 25, will mark the first home series for NDSU since Oct. 21.

“North Dakota State is a team in the rebuilding stage, but playing at home always makes a huge difference,” Murdoch said. “So this should still be an excellent series.”

The last time they crossed state lines spelled disaster for the Cyclones, as they were swept by the University of Michigan-Dearborn in their first conference series of the year on Oct. 13 and 14.

The Cyclones were unable to hold on to leads in both games during their last trip to Michigan, and credit part of their early season downfall to first-time road jitters.

“We were in a situation in Michigan where our rookies were playing their first weekend away from home, and they didn’t really know what to expect,” said junior Jayson Peterson, who is tied for the team lead with 13 goals on the season.

“But now we are more experienced, and we have a goal of making every rink we play in just like home, so playing on the road won’t make as much of a difference.”

The Cyclones are coming off what may be their worst loss of the season, a home contest against No. 7 Lindenwood, 6-1, last Saturday, just 24 hours after blowing past the Lions for a 10-5 victory.

Before Saturday’s game, the Cyclones offense had been averaging nearly eight goals per game in their last five contests.

“We are an explosive team offensively, and we need to maintain that by keeping our cannons firing, getting early shots off and crashing the opponent’s net for all 60 minutes,” Murdoch said.

Now with a consistent offensive attack and more playing time under their belts, the Cyclones hope to return to Ames with a four-game win streak.

“Some Cyclone Hockey teams of years past have actually been better road teams than home teams,” Murdoch said. “Now it’s time for our players to step up in these upcoming weekends and do the same.”