Hate is a strong and violent word, but is used loosely when describing the hockey rivalry between Illinois and Iowa State.

“I have a deep hatred for Iowa State and Ames, Iowa,” senior forward and team captain Jim Rogers said.

This weekend, No. 5 Illinois will take to the road for the first time this season when they battle the No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones to open up league play, and there is no love lost between these two clubs.

“Beating them at their own barn is key,” Rogers said. “(We want to) make them realize that they are weaker than us.”

But not everyone on the team hates the Cyclones.

“Hate is a pretty strong word,” senior forward Brett Duncan said. “I don’t know why I’d hate a team I usually put up big numbers against.”

Senior forward Brian Coleman said the rivalry began years ago when Illinois would always lose to Iowa State. But lately the Illini have owned Iowa State, not losing to the Cyclones since Jan. 26, 2002. Iowa State has lost to Illinois by an average of more than five goals over the last eight meetings but has upped the intensity as of late.

“This (rivalry) has been growing for us, and we aren’t going to go out and lose to them,” Rogers said. “So hopefully, we go out there with a sense of urgency and beat them twice.”

But with 11 rookies on the squad taking their first road trip, it won’t be easy. To get the young players used to the atmosphere, Rogers said the veterans give a tour of campus.

“We take them around Iowa when we get there, and show them how ugly the place is basically,” he said.

Freshman forward Nick Fabbrini has yet to experience a game against the Cyclones, but said he expects them to be much more physical than any game so far.

“I’m expecting the game to be a lot more up tempo and a lot more hitting,” Fabbrini said. “(The veterans) said the games are going to be much more intense than the past couple weeks.”

But Rogers knows better and is familiar with the hostile environment that awaits the team.

“My first time playing there, I remember how bad it smelled because the cows are right behind the rink,” he said. “The rink is awesome, but I just remember the smell, definitely.”

Not to mention the fans.

“Their fans hate us as much as our fans hate them, so it’s definitely going to get rowdy,” Rogers said.

But this weekend will be the first test of a season still in its infancy.

“It’s a good showing of how we are right now in our league,” Rogers said. “Every year we play them they’ve always been tough games, and it shows us how much work we need.”