Despite being ranked No. 1 in the nation, the Cyclones realize nothing is set in stone this weekend.

After capturing the Central States Collegiate Hockey League regular season title with a sweep of Western Michigan, Iowa State will attempt one week later to also take the CSCHL tournament.

Taking place at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena this weekend, the annual league tourney features the top six teams of the eight-team league.

Incredibly, all six of this year’s competitors are ranked among the top ten teams in the nation.

“It’s going to be a showcase of the nationals,” Cyclone head coach Al Murdoch said Thursday. “There are over 130 teams in the [American Collegiate Hockey Association], and six of the top ten will be right here in Ames this weekend.”

Friday features first-round action at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

No. 4 Ohio plays host to No. 8 Illinois in the evening’s first game, followed by the matchup of No. 10 Western Michigan versus No. 9 Eastern Michigan.

On Saturday at 5 p.m., No. 3 Michigan-Dearborn will play Eastern Michigan, if they advance, or the winner of the Ohio/Illinois matchup.

Following that game at 8 p.m., ISU takes the ice for the first time against either Western Michigan or the Ohio/Illinois winner.

Asked whom he would prefer to face early, Murdoch emphasized the unpredictable nature of such a talent-laden tournament.

“We haven’t really looked at that,” he said. “We’ll just see what happens and take it as it comes.”

If the Cyclones win Saturday, the tournament’s consolation game will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. If they lose, the championship will be held at that time.

Either way, ISU will play again on Sunday afternoon at 1, competing for either the championship or consolation, depending on the outcome of Saturday’s contest.

Murdoch said his players are confident for the tournament, having enjoyed a great deal of success in recent weeks. He’ll look to his entire team to step up against the tough competition.

“Our co-captains have been leading by example all season,” Murdoch said.

“Darren and Darcy Anderson have played extremely well, and Greg Jones has been outstanding on defense. Mike Ogbourne has also been exceptional in his senior year,” he said.

Murdoch emphasized that the team’s upperclassmen have played well, but he also stressed the great strides made by the freshman and sophomore classes.

“Our veterans have been pretty solid through thick and thin,” he said, “and all of our rookies have made big contributions at one time or another.”

Also playing well for ISU of late has been freshman goaltender Dan LaVoie, who posted back-to-back shutouts last weekend against the Stallions.

“Dan’s really hitting his stride,” Murdoch said. “Fans will see a lot of him this weekend.”