At the end of the 2014-15 season, Cyclone Hockey was dealt a season-ending loss in the quarterfinals of the American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament by Central Oklahoma, which went on to win the national title.

Tensions were high at the beginning of this season as the Cyclones traveled south to take on the Bronchos. There was a need for revenge and retribution after the Cyclones’ early knock out.

And the Cyclones did just that, coming home to Ames after beating the Bronchos 4-1 in the first game, and holding on for the 5-4 win in the second game.

But this weekend’s matchup against the Bronchos is different from some in the past.

“They’re two totally different teams at this point [than] earlier in the season,” said coach Jason Fairman.

The Bronchos, who started the year No.1, have fallen slightly from their pedestal and sit at No. 4 with a 21-6-0-1 record.

When the Cyclones first traveled to Oklahoma, the Bronchos had a record of 2-2 and had recently been knocked off their No. 1 spot. 

This time around, though, the Cyclones have home-ice advantage and two wins against the Bronchos earlier in the season.

At home, the Cyclones are 15-2-0-2, but on the road they’re 4-2-1-2. In this weekend’s home series, the Cyclones seem to have the upper hand.

On the road, the Bronchos have a record of 6-4, so coming into a rink that they haven’t seen since last season will give the Cyclones another leg up. 

The first installment of this weekend’s matchup doubles as the Military Appreciation Night, where the team is expecting more than 150 members of the ISU ROTC program, as well as veterans from different branches of the government, to be in attendance.

“We should have a good turnout,” said defenseman Jake Uglem. “It’s a good atmosphere [to play in].”

Along with a color guard presentation before the start of the game, members of different branches of the ROTC program will play a game of broomball during the first intermission.

The Cyclones have been anticipating this matchup ever since sweeping the Bronchos in Oklahoma. They have a chance to finish off the sweep. 

“Last year in the national tournament, [the Bronchos] knocked us out, so it was really nice to sweep them earlier this year and we’re hoping to do it again,” Uglem said.