Iowa State University Hockey: A Legacy of Cyclone Spirit on Ice
Iowa State Men's Ice Hockey embodies the spirit and skill of Cyclone athletics on the frozen stage. With a history steeped in camaraderie and a pursuit of victory, the team competes at a high level. This article explores the rich history of Iowa State University (ISU) Hockey, from its humble beginnings to its national championship glory and its place within the landscape of collegiate hockey.
Early Days and the Formation of the CSCHL
The roots of ISU Hockey stretch back to the late 1960s. Back then, there wasn’t an Ames-based ice arena for Cyclone Hockey to use for practices and games. The team had to travel back and forth to Des Moines to practice and play their home games, which was a burden for the team and fans alike.
Iowa State University is an original member of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL). The league began play in the fall of 1970 with teams in three divisions. Two divisions were comprised of teams from Illinois, while the Western Division was made up of teams from Iowa. After a history of leaving and reentering the league, the Cyclones stayed for good from the 1983-84 season onward.
The CSCHL's inaugural tournament occurred at the end of the 1971-72 season, with Lewis College winning the round-robin tournament. It was an eight team tournament with no championship game. The CSCHL restructured itself for the 1974-75 season after losing the Western Division. The league's members all came from the state of Illinois, and for the 1975-76 season, the name of the league changed to the Illinois Collegiate Hockey League. During this season, the University of Illinois joined the league, making them the longest on-going CSCHL members. For the 1975-76 and 1976-77 seasons, the league had two divisions, based on team strength. The next year marked the beginning of teams from other states joining the league. For the 1979-80 season, the league changed its name back to the Central States Collegiate Hockey League.
Growth and Change in the CSCHL
Marquette University joined the league as the first team from Wisconsin for the 1980-81 season, a season in which the league had its only five team post-season tournament. The CSCHL began its accelerated expansion by adding Eastern Michigan University for play during the 1989-90 season. The University of Michigan-Dearborn, who had lost their varsity team the previous year, joined in 1991-92. Ohio University joined the league for the 1993-94 season, a season that saw the league split into divisions for the first time since the 1976-77 season. The divisions were based on geographical location. Kent State University joined in February of 1994 to bring the full-time membership to a total of eight. With an odd number of teams, the CSCHL dropped its East-West Divisions and merged back to one division. For 1998-99 the addition of Western Michigan University brought the league back to eight full-time members, but the league remained one division. The playoffs, however, went back to a six-team format. The 1999-2000 season saw the departure of long-time member Marquette University and the addition of Saint Louis University and the University at Buffalo as affiliate members. In 2000-2001, both Saint Louis and Buffalo became full-time members, making the CSCHL a 10-team league.
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The 2003-2004 season saw 20-year members from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater drop out of the league due to financial reasons right before the start of the season. That left the league with 8 teams, until a hazing incident forced Eastern Michigan University to cancel the remainder of its season after Thanksgiving. The 2004-2005 season saw Robert Morris College join the league, bringing the membership back to nine teams. With the addition of Lindenwood University from St.
The 2010-2011 season marks the 41st season for the Central States Collegiate Hockey League. Over the years, the size of the league has varied. The CSCHL has seven full-time members, making it, arguably, the finest American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 hockey league in the country, including the last three ACHA Men's Division 1 National Champions, Lindenwood University (2008 & 2009) and the University of Illinois! Over the past thirteen seasons, CSCHL teams have won nine ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championships and have had a team in the Championship game 12 times.
Besides being proud of its current teams, the CSCHL is proud of the teams that have moved on to varsity programs. Included here are the University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama-Huntsville, St.
Finding a Home in Ames: Hilton Coliseum and the Cyclone Area Community Center
That is, until Hilton Coliseum opened its doors on Dec. To ensure the team could participate in Hilton Coliseum, the portable bleachers and the hardwood would be removed to bring in the ice and boards to build the rink. Cyclone Hockey experienced a lot of firsts in the venue.
Former Cyclone Hockey head coach, Al Murdoch: There was a donor, when I first came, that discovered that I was from Canada. [The donor knew] I was knowledgeable about hockey and he thought maybe [Cyclone Hockey should play] in Hilton Coliseum and there could be ice in there too. So, Murdoch set out to find more money and he found it in a donor located in Chicago. Murdoch met with the benefactor and at the end of the meeting, the supporter pledged $100,000 if there were at least 10 hockey games played in Hilton a year.
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Former Cyclone Hockey forward and captain, Bill Ward: We played an exhibition game against the Des Moines Buccaneers. That game, we had about 6,000 fans. Game in and game out, the lower bowl in Hilton Coliseum would be filled with screaming fans. While the attendance was solid in Hilton Coliseum, the hockey action was even better.
Despite playing games in Hilton Coliseum, Cyclone Hockey couldn’t practice there. Murdoch: We practiced on an outdoor rink north of Beyer Hall. They strung cables from post to post and hung light bulbs from it. But practicing outside had its negatives - primarily, the ice would melt. Murdoch: North of Beyer Hall is mostly shaded, so the ice wouldn’t completely melt, but sometimes there was water on it. So, that’s when the idea came to build a practice facility. Still play games in Hilton, but practice in the Cyclone Area Community Center.
The Cyclone Area Community Center, which is now the coaches’ office and hockey lounge for the players, became Cyclone Hockey’s new home in 1979. Ward: I think it sat about 1,000 people, but that included standing room only. So, most of our games we played at home were absolutely packed. The one end of the rink that was standing room only went five, six, seven rows deep. The crowd was boisterous. It was absolutely great to play home games in there. The fans would get a little rowdy for sure. Murdoch: It was cold, so [fans] were wearing coats and mittens and they all had a beer in each hand. I don’t think the selling of beer had any influence on the crowds. So, we played in there for a good 25 years. Gradually, we played more games there because we could make more money.
The Pinnacle: The 1992 National Championship
The 1992 season is undoubtedly the pinnacle season for the cardinal and gold. After sharing the first regular season CSCHL title with Michigan-Dearborn, the program’s bid to win its fourth-straight conference tournament came up short. Murdoch: The national tournament was hosted by Penn State that year and it was set up in a round robin type style. Ward: We were banged up a little bit. Murdoch: We had a pretty good team that year, but we had a few injuries prior to nationals. One guy had knee surgery. One guy had shoulder surgery. So, I thought that wasn’t a problem. So, we go out into the first game, which I believe was against Eastern Michigan, and we come out of that game tied because back then games could end in a tie. The players went onto the bus disappointed, but I told them not to sweat it. But then the next day in the next game, we tied again. The last tie gave Cyclone Hockey the worst seed in the tournament. Ward: The only thing I remember is somehow getting to face off against Michigan-Dearborn in the final because they were actually an NCAA Division I [team]. Murdoch: Michigan-Dearborn was an NAIA school and then an NCAA D3 school. That meant they still had scholarship players, while we didn’t. Ward: Murdoch was always a great motivator. The team got Murdoch’s message loud and clear as they defeated Michigan-Dearborn, 5-3. Ward: [Wang] could flat out rip it. I mean, he was such a powerful skater and had one of the most accurate shots I have ever seen. It was a closer game than the score showed. It was 5-3 with an empty net [goal]. So, it was a really tight game. Murdoch: I still remember guys singing getting on the bus to head home. They were setting up a parade in Ames because we won the National Championship. We get to the World’s Largest Truck Stop, pull in there and the bus driver tells me the engine blew. But he told me there was another a bus on the way. So, I call to tell people we were going to be three to four hours behind schedule. It was snowing and icy that day.
The Al Murdoch Era and Legacy
Al Murdoch came to Iowa State in 1969 to work on his master’s degree. He only expected to stay in Ames for a few years before heading back home to Neepawa, Manitoba. Murdoch: The students would love if we won Friday and Saturday. If we did, I would go right in front of the band, take off my coat and swing it over my head. The last time Murdoch would swing his coat over his head to the beat of “You Can Call Me Al” was after Cyclone Hockey swept No. 2 Minot State in a two-game series because during the following week on Nov. 19, 2013, he retired from coaching.
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Former Cyclone Hockey defenseman and assistant coach Brandon Clark: I was surprised because he was a part of the program for 40 years. He is kind of the glue of the program. He kept all of the alumni together. He kept up the advertising and stuff like that because he was there for so long. Ward: Al obviously started the program. I think he taught a lot of the guys there a lot more than just hockey. Clark: Playing for Al, it was really interesting. He is kind of an old-school coach. He demanded a lot from his players. He was a no nonsense, no excuse person. But at the end of the day, I always knew he cared about me.
The Fairman Era and Continued Success
After Murdoch retired midway through the 2014 season, Jason Fairman was named the interim head coach and general manager of the program. Fairman guided the team to the quarterfinals of the ACHA national tournament and a final record of 36-10-4-0 record. Current Cyclone Hockey defenseman, Kody Reuter: He is very detail oriented. When he tells us that he wants something done a certain way, he definitely expects us to follow through with that. Clark: I haven’t been involved with the program for almost three years. But what I hear from the players is that there are a lot of positive changes going on. As far as on ice, he has led them to a few good years. He led them to a national championship berth. Throughout Fairman’s four seasons as head coach, the program has consistently improved. Reuter: We have been around for 50 years now. The program has always been successful. So, we definitely try to focus on keeping that tradition going.
Cyclone Hockey: A Source of Pride
Despite those challenges, Cyclone Hockey is arguably the most successful program at Iowa State. This season marks the 50th anniversary for the program. It has appeared in 14 ACHA Final Fours, nine ACHA National Championship games and has claimed one national title. The Hockey Club (Men) at Iowa State provides an opportunity for experienced players to continue playing hockey at a highly competitive level.
Iowa State Men's Ice Hockey invites fans, students, and the entire Cyclone community to share in the excitement of a fast-paced, hard-hitting, and passionately played game. Not for Cyclone football or men’s and women’s basketball or even Cyclone volleyball.
Iowa State University Athletics: A Broader Perspective
The Iowa State Cyclones are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Iowa State University, located in Ames. Iowa State's athletic director is Jamie Pollard. Since his arrival in 2005, Pollard has replaced head coaches in football, wrestling, men's basketball, gymnastics, soccer, cross country/track & field, women's golf, tennis, and softball.
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I athletics. T. J. Otzelberger is the current ISU men's basketball head coach. Prior to the 2017-18 season, Iowa State has a 1339-1293 all-time record, and has been to the NCAA Tournament nineteen times including five Sweet 16 appearances, an Elite 8 appearance, and a Final Four appearance. ISU has also won six regular conference titles and six conference tournament titles.
Iowa State plays NCAA Division I FBS football in the Big 12 Conference. Iowa State football team is led by head coach Matt Campbell. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894. The Cyclones play home games in Jack Trice Stadium. The stadium is named after Jack Trice, a football player who incurred a fatal injury while playing for the Cyclones against Minnesota in 1923. In 1975, the stadium's playing field was named in honor of Trice, Iowa State's first African American athlete and the school's first athlete to die of injuries sustained during a Cyclone athletic competition. Until 1997, the facility itself was known as Cyclone Stadium. Renovations to Jack Trice Stadium were completed before the 2015 football season. Among the upgrades was the Sukup End Zone, an addition to the south end zone of the stadium.
Iowa State has a variety of club sports for both men and women. ISU baseball was cut by the school's athletic department in 2000; but it continues, as a club sport, to provide students with the opportunity to attend ISU and play competitive baseball. Iowa State has both of men's and women's club crew team. The Iowa State Golf Club first formed in 2009 and has competed in the National Collegiate Golf Club Association since 2013.
Iowa State Men's Hockey is technically a club sport but operates like a non-scholarship sport. ISU played in the Division I Central States Collegiate Hockey League conference from 1979 until the conference folded in 2024, at which point the team moved to Midwest College Hockey, both of which are part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
Started in 2004, the annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series gives points to the Hawkeyes and Cyclones based on wins in 11 sports and academic achievement. The football specific Cy-Hawk Trophy was introduced in 1977 when the two teams met for the first time since 1934. The trophy is awarded to the victor of the annual football game.
Iowa State uses a cardinal, Cy, as its mascot instead of an actual tornado or Cyclone. Prior to the football match up against the University of Colorado on November 12, 2005, a tornado touched down in Ames, Iowa and forced fans to either stand out in the parking lot and watch the storm or flee to shelter in Hilton Coliseum. It created such an atmosphere that Iowa State was able to win over the favored Buffaloes 30-16. Originally silver, yellow, and black, the school colors were changed to cardinal and gold in 1899 to make dyeing sweaters easier. James H. Hilton Coliseum is a 14,384-seat multi-purpose arena. The arena, which is part of the Iowa State Center, opened in 1971. It is home to the Iowa State men's basketball, women's basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. Jack Trice Stadium (formerly Cyclone Stadium) is a 61,500-seat stadium. The arena opened on September 20, 1975, with a win against Air Force). It is home to the Iowa State Cyclones football team.
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