Every season comes to an end, and only one team gets to end it on a positive note. Unfortunately for Cyclone Hockey, the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournaments didn’t end the way the team had envisioned.

“I was visualizing, and I think all of our players were visualizing, being in the championship game,” said coach Al Murdoch. “But we had to get some bounces, and the puck didn’t bounce our way in the Illinois game.”

The weekend tournament came to a premature end for the fifth-seeded Cyclones, with a 5-2, second-round loss to the third-seeded University of Illinois. They out-shot Illinois 29-20, but let a tough second period – which saw Illinois score four times – get the best of them. The loss to their rivals by three goals came as even more of a shock because of the number of close games they had played earlier this season.

“It was a little bittersweet to lose to Illinois, a team that we had beaten earlier in the season,” Murdoch said. “I think the players left it all on the ice, and in the dressing room after, the players were totally drained physically and mentally.”

There were some less-than-lucky bounces that may have played into the Cyclones elimination. Illinois was well rested coming off an easy 3-0 win over Robert Morris College. In contrast, the Cyclones were coming off a 4-3 overtime thriller against the 12th-seeded University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma, making its first appearance in the ACHA tournament, put the Cyclones through an exhausting 17:56 of overtime, before sophomore forward Mike Paulsen finally put the Cyclones into the second round.

The loss was difficult for everyone, but for seniors Brad Czachor, David Moline and Zach Peterson, not only was it the end of their seasons, but also the end of their careers.

“On one side there’s probably a certain amount of relief that all the morning workouts, all the tough practices and all the stuff we do is done,” Murdoch said. “But at the same time, in a breath of air it is all done and they wish it wasn’t.”

As tough as it is for the seniors to leave, it will be just as tough for Murdoch to see them go.

“It’s harder than people realize because, in four years, they become like my own children; they become family,” he said. “They’re leaving the nest here at Cyclone Hockey, and we will definitely miss them.”

The team may also have a tough time rebounding from the loss of its three seniors, and the void in leadership with which it will be left.

“All three were extremely good on and off the Ice,” Murdoch said. “David Moline in particular would have to rank as one of the top captains I’ve ever had.”

Although the Cyclone seniors will be moving on, the team will return 22 of its 25 players. This leads the team to believe it won’t have any problem filling the leadership void left by Moline.

“Boy, right now I feel like I’ve got 20 guys that can all help to contribute to that void in leadership,” Murdoch said. “The ones that come to mind right away are co-captains Allen Raushel and Matt McLin, [who] have shown a lot of leadership, as well.”

The Cyclones, who finished the season at 36-9-2, came up short in the tournament again this season, but they already have their eyes set on next year.

“The fans are in for a treat,” Murdoch said. “I think we will be back to standing-room-only crowds this next winter, and there is going to be some great hockey.”