The Cyclone Hockey team will continue its preparation for the Central States Collegiate Hockey League during the next week and a half, but for this weekend, it will take a detour against the Illiana Blackbirds, a tier-III independent junior team.

The No. 10 Cyclones (15-13-5), coming off a series split against No. 6 Robert Morris, will use this weekend as time to try new faces, rest some players and shake up the lineup.

This month is considered by some coaches in the hockey world as the “dog days” of the season. Cyclone Hockey head coach Jason Fairman said that was part of the reason why the team scheduled the exhibition matchup.

The series could push the team’s play one of two different ways.

“It could [go] either way. Guys could be rested and have that jump or not have that competitive [edge] week after week,” Fairman said. “We have backed off on practices this week, so guys aren’t tired. I want players to have that jump. I think having a jump trumps working on stuff. If you are drill master all week, they may know the systems better, but they won’t have that jump.”

The Cyclones will certainly have an advantage by resting their team. With the CSCHL regular season crown still in the air, the four teams above the Cyclones in the CSCHL standings will take on each other, vying for the top spot. Lindenwood will square off versus Robert Morris and Ohio takes on an already-eliminated Illinois squad.

The weekend isn’t just for resting, as the team still wants to make sure that it knows the system that Fairman mentioned and that players can refine some mistakes made during the last couple of weeks.

“We need to make sure that we aren’t getting into bad habits and make sure we keep up the good habits,” said freshman defenseman Kody Reuter. “We just need to do things right, things that we have been doing all year.”

The power play is one of the issues the team has run into throughout the last few weekends, going 2-for-21 during its last two series. Fairman said that this weekend gives him a chance to shake up some of those lines and give new players a shot.

The Cyclones also want to work on some smaller aspects this weekend as well.

“Identifying guys in the zone, back-checking is going to be important,” said sophomore Alex Grupe. “Coming down to the end of the year, we have to work on line changes [and] ending games. I think conditioning is a big part as well.”

Cyclone Hockey will start its exhibition series against the Illiana Blackbirds at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.