Coach Al Murdoch will be calling the shots for the 1,000th time in his career as men’s hockey head coach at Iowa State.

“He has a genuine love for the sport of hockey,” said Assistant Coach Chuck Wight.

Murdoch has been with the ISU hockey team since 1969. He said he has gained a lot of experience during his time here.

Murdoch has gone from student athlete playing on the club team to student athlete and coach to coach.

He was one of the founders, original president and member of the Board of Directors for the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Because of his significant contributions, the ACHA trophy is called the Murdoch Cup.

“It’s a challenge,” Murdoch said of coaching. “You watch the players mature from when they come as freshman to when they leave.”

In his 30 years of coaching, Murdoch’s success as a coach is evident in his overall record of 664 wins and 336 loses, as well as in the lives of the many student athletes.

Anthony Penner, senior in exercise and sport science, said Murdoch has the ability to motivate players and “brings in good new student athletes each year” whom he also teaches to have confidence throughout life.

Wight said Murdoch is an excellent communicator with his athletes and motivates them to be their best on and off the ice.

“‘Try to play to your potential,’ is Coach Murdoch’s philosophy,” he said.

Throughout his coaching career, Murdoch said he is most proud of going to the National Championships in 1992 and taking the team on an international tour.

Murdoch said there is no extra pressure to win this weekend.

“We like to win all the time,” he said.

Brian Paolello, senior in liberal studies, said the team hopes Saturday night is a good game.

“We want to make it a good night for him,” he said.

This year the hockey team’s record is 26-10-1. They take on Saint Louis University Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, 1505 Gateway Hills Park Drive.

There will be a celebration after the game at the Starlight Village, 2601 E. 13th St. Murdoch said it is open to the public.