Momentum can mean so much in the world of sports.

Throughout this semester, the ISU men’s hockey team has learned just how important getting on a roll can be to a team.

The Cyclones will host the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament this Friday through Sunday after sweeping St. Louis last weekend. The wins led to the No. 2 seed in the tournament for Iowa State.

Games will be played at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

The Cyclones will need the support of a home crowd. Six of the eight tournament teams will play at the national tournament as well.

With the two wins, Iowa State is 23-14-2 overall and finished the CSCHL regular season at 10-7-1. They have won 16 out of their last 22ÿgames and will enter the tournament ranked No. 7 in the ACHA.

The team has also won six straight home games and its only four losses this semester were to ranked teams of Minot State and Illinois, which will enter the tournament ranked No. 1 in the ACHA.

Last year, the Cyclones won the CSCHL tournament as they shut out both of their opponents.

This year will be the first time that the CSCHL will consist of eight teams in the tournament.

Sophomore Scott Hagen said the four consecutive wins have created huge momentum for the Cyclones.

He also said that the team is preparing itself very well for the upcoming tournament.

“We’re on a hot streak. We’re the defending champions from last year. We’ve got high expectations and we still have a chance to win the tournament,” Hagen said. “We’re going to pick up the tempo a bit. We’re going to do a little bit more high speed drills. We’re going to work more in the weight room and get a little more physical this weekend.”

In last Friday’s contest, the Cyclones were down 7-5 with less than three minutes remaining. With some last-minute heroics, Travis Denzel knocked in the game-winning goal to lift Iowa State to the dramatic come-from-behind win.

Last Saturday’s contest was also came down to the wire as Zach Peterson tallied the game-winning goal for Iowa State.

ISU men’s hockey coach Alan Murdoch praised his team for the sweep.

“They did what they had to on Friday night. The guys never game up and they played hard and tough. Saturday night was just a good solid game,” Murdoch said. “I was pleased with the goaltending of Jason Katz and Nolan Thompson … We got the scoring when we needed it on offense.”

Murdoch said the rest of the league has begun to take notice of the Cyclones as a contender.

“The league recognizes the strength of the three forwards of Denzel, Fast and [Andrew] Murdoch who are playing the best hockey of their life,” Murdoch said. “And Moren is playing super on defense.”

On Friday night, Iowa State will open up the tournament against No. 7 seed Western Michigan. In their only series of the season, the Cyclones swept the Stallions 5-1 and 4-0. Denzel had a pair of goals in the first victory.

Western Michigan enters the tournament with a overall record of 19-11-3 and have losses in three of their last four games.