The Cyclone Hockey team checked into its 1997-98 season with two wins over the Minneapolis Kodiaks at home last weekend.

ISU beat “the puck out of” the Kodiaks, the reigning Junior National Champions in the USA Hockey League, both Friday and Saturday night.

The Cyclones bagged Friday’s game by the score of 12-5 and garnered an 8-4 win against the squad Saturday.

Friday night, the team took the ice with the confidence of several returning players and the new skill of the rookies. The Cyclone team set the pace by tallying the game’s first three points before the Kodiaks could reply with a goal of their own.

In the opening match, two Cyclones scored three goals to net the coveted hat trick.

Newcomer Nick Kruebger, from Urbandale, pocketed his first hat trick as an ISU puck chaser.

Chris Poli, from Des Moines, tallied three goals of his own. Pat Feezer and Mike Ogbourne also collected goals for the Cyclones.

The closest the Kodiaks came to the Cyclones was a one-point deficit of 3-2 early in the match.

After that, the ISU team left Minneapolis behind, finishing every period with the advantage on the scoreboard.

Assistant Coach Bill Ward said the team was selected just last week and had only one week to prepare before opening play. He said the win was a good way for the men to start the season.

“It’s nice to see we have a little scoring punch,” he said.

Ward said the team has some defensive skills that need sharpening, but it also has an offense that can continue to build.

On Saturday night, ISU earned its victory in a come-from-behind fashion. Off to a slow start, the Cyclone team trailed the Kodiaks at the end of the first period. With the ticks of the clock, the Cyclone players gelled and began coloring the game cardinal and gold.

Rookie Terry Conlin from Canada picked up his first goal for the Cyclones and topped it off with a second goal as well as an assist.

His cousin and team captain, Darren Anderson, twice pushed the puck into the goal for his two points.

Ogbourne repeated as a scoring contributor Saturday evening, putting two points on the board for ISU.

ISU dominated much of the second period as well as the third. In the end, the Cyclone men had an 8-4 win.

Cyclones great up to play at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena again next weekend. The Cyclones will take on Colorado State on Friday and Saturday night.