If goaltending and playoff experience wins games, then the ’95-’96 edition of Cyclone Hockey seems primed for a national title run.

After losing only five seniors from a team that finished third at the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Invitational Tournament last season, Iowa State returns with a nucleus of players eager for a shot at the championship.

“I think we should win nationals with the team we’ve got coming back,” said Brian Wierson, a sophomore forward. “With hard work it is definitely within our reach.”

Kyle Geiger, a senior goaltender, agreed, “We’ve got a good core of returning players which we really haven’t had in the past.”

Among the legion of freshmen and sophomores on the squad, are four seniors who will play vital roles in the team’s success.

The most important of these may be starting goalie Geiger, who carried the bulk of the net-minding duties last season.

Geiger allowed a mere 3.19 goals a game to go along with a save percentage of .904 in 26 contests.

All-Conference defenseman Brian Preston, considered by Head Coach Al Murdoch as a senior because of his academic credentials even though eligibility wise he is junior, will also be a key returnee.

Defenseman John Ruston, who Murdoch thinks is going to play his best hockey this season, and forward Mike Cech will be the team’s other seniors.

Even though ISU does boast some experience, Murdoch said that the strength of the team is its youth.

Led by promising freshmen Chad Evers, Jeff Richer and Chris Sprong, who was a member of last year’s Iowa All-Star team as an Ames High School senior, the Cyclones will have a host of new talent on the blue line to join sophomore Rusty Crawford who Murdoch professes as excellent.

“Last year we had great team chemistry and even though we lost a few guys, our new players should fill in great,” Crawford said.

Junior Doug Borud and sophomore Mike Ogbourne, the top returning scorers from the ’94-’95 campaign, lead the offensive attack for ISU. The Cyclone offense also claims its share of young talent.

Included in this collection is Wierson, who Murdoch said performed well last season as a freshman, and newcomers Pat Feezor, Tony Finley, Chris Poli and Ryan Kinart.

Murdoch added that sophomore Rob Howitt and freshman Neil Gilmore are both looking strong in goal alongside Geiger.

In addition to a reasonable amount of skill, Murdoch said conditioning is a Cyclone strength.

“We are traditionally one of the best conditioned teams in the league,” Murdoch said.

The team’s inexperience, though, could prove to be a weakness.

“We’re pretty youthful and vulnerable to teams that are full of juniors and seniors,” Murdoch said.

“The youthfulness will probably cause us to be vulnerable towards more goals scored against, but we will win a lot of games by scoring eight to ten goals, which will be exciting for the fans.”

The players think the age of the team will be a definite non-issue.

“We’ve been young in the past, so I don’t think that will affect us,” Geiger said.

“I don’t believe our youth is a weakness,” Crawford said. “I think it brings energy and enthusiasm.”

Strengths and weaknesses aside, the attitude of the team is a positive one that is heavily geared towards the fans.

“Our goal is to win the national championship and to put on a great show for our fans, since they are the best in the conference,” Crawford said.

Murdoch summed up the team attitude, “The fans are going to get their money’s worth.”

Cyclone Hockey opens on Friday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. with the intersquad game and officially begins on Aug. 29 with the Cyclone Invitational Tournament.

All home games will be held at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.