For the first time in Cyclone Hockey history, the ISU Men’s Ice Hockey Team will be playing in Wells Fargo Arena when it takes on the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a pretty big deal,” said assistant captain Matt Mclin. “It’s a brand-new arena and a lot of people go to those games, so we’ll be expecting a great turnout.”

The game will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with student tickets priced down from the normal $21 to $10.50. As an added benefit to watching the team play, fans will be allowed to remain in the arena and watch the Iowa Stars game at 7:30 p.m., at no extra charge.

The price was negotiated by Cyclone Hockey Coach Al Murdoch, who said he was thrilled at the opportunity for the players, coaches and fans to experience hockey in the new Des Moines arena.

“It will be one of the nicest facilities the players will have had a chance to play in,” Murdoch said. “I’ve heard lots of professional players say that Wells Fargo is probably nicer than 75 percent of the NHL arenas.”

The team wraps up its series with Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday at 2 p.m., back in the familiar comfort of the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

“I expect the University of [Minnesota-]Duluth to be a lot like the University of Minnesota,” Murdoch said.

Cyclone Hockey easily handled the University of Minnesota, winning 7-2 and 8-2. Murdoch said that’s why he feels consistency is the key to sweeping Minnesota-Duluth.

“I think we’re at a stage of the season where we should see that consistency in goaltending and defensive play, and have enough offense to win games,” he said.

With 11 of the 24 Cyclone Hockey players coming from Minnesota, many of the players will have already competed with each other on different levels. Familiarity will be a factor along with an added element of rivalry between the players from Minnesota, which is why the Cyclone Hockey Team is not overlooking their opponent.

“Sometimes the players from Minnesota think they’re the best players in the world, and these guys will be the same,” Murdoch said. “They’ll think they’re pretty good.”

The team attempts to use this series as a spring board for the final third of its season, but team members said they will have to elevate their overall play once again, as the schedule continues to get more challenging. It culminates in a season finale with the No. 1 University of Illinois.

“That weekend’s going to be our final weekend to be able to move up in the rankings,” Mclin said. “So of course it’s going to be pretty big weekend – they’re a big rival for us.”

A win, let alone just playing against Illinois right before the CSCHL and ACHA tournaments, would prove to be very beneficial for the team in its quest for a National Championship.

“You’re going to get a good feel of what speed and what level of quality you have to be at,” Murdoch said. “It isn’t the National Championship, but it’s going to be as close to it as you come.”