It’s my turn in the pressbox, and I’ve got one of the best seats in the house. I’ll be giving updates throughout the game.

First Period:

0:12: A huge hit in the corner energizes the crowd, of which is 90% is clad in red.

4:04: Wisconsin takes the first penalty of the game. It’s one of the top power plays in the nation against one of the top penalty kills. Advantage UW this time – Maine doesn’t score.

9:57: Yet another TV timeout – TV is obviously great for the game, but the constant interruptions hurt the flow of the game. Players stand around in the faceoff circle waiting for a big yellow light over at the scorer’s table to go out.

10:12: Bang – just like that it’s 1-0 Badgers. Adam Burish from Joe Pavelski and Robbie Earl. The puck goes in off a Maine defender after Maine goaltender Ben Bishop makes the initial save. The place explodes.

11:49: The Badgers take another penalty – charging on Nick Licari. He argues the call, but referee Dave Hansen makes a motion showing Licari that his skates were six inches off the ground when he made the hit.

13:49: The penalty ends with the Badgers getting more chances than the Black Bears.

13:53: UW goes on the man advantage for the first time this evening. Nothing doing.

17:37: Maine ties it at 1-1. Like UW’s, a deflected goal off a defender. Michel Leveille from Matt Duffy. First goal allowed by Badger goaltender Brian Elliott in 270 minutes, 26 seconds.

20:00: End of one. Maine survives a scare off a bad bounce with less than a minute to play.

Second Period:

4:18: It’s all Maine early on, but when the Badgers take a penalty after a scrum in front of the UW net, it’s Wisconsin that gets the goal. Ross Carlson picks up the puck at center ice, beats a Maine defender than then puts a wrist shot past Bishop. 2-1 UW.

8:16: A two on one on the power play produces UW’s third goal of the game. Robbie Earl was shooting all the way, beating Bishop to make it 3-1.

11:53: Maine gets a badly needed power play but can’t convert.

15:53: Observation during the last TV timeout – Wisconsin has a dozen or so energetic fans who dance in front of their band. Maine didn’t have anything like that at the beginning of the game, but thanks to some North Dakota fans, they now do. A group came down and is dancing…I guess it’s dancing..in front of the Maine band in an attempt to psych up the Maine fans. No conference loyalty there, I guess.

17:12: The Badgers take another penalty. So far their penchant for hitting after the whistle hasn’t cost them as Maine has been unable to convert.

18:48 Great save by Elliott keeps it 3-1 Badgers. Maine takes a penalty…then another at 19:52. Black Bear head coach Tim Whitehead doesn’t like it. He points to the replay on the scoreboard, yelling at the ref, “Did you see that?”

20:00. 3-1, guys in red. Most people in the crowd very happy. Back for more in a few minutes.

Third Period:

4:48: Maine kills off both penalties. They get some chances after that, but Elliott is playing very well.

5:20: A turnover produces a chance for UW’s Nick Licari, but he’s hauled down. The Badgers don’t convert on the power play.

9:56: Maine is outshooting Wisconsin 32-28, but the Badgers have definitely had the better scoring opportunities.

11:29: We’ve got a brand new hockey game as Mike Lundin scores through a bit of a screen to make it 3-2 Badgers. Greg Moore and Josh Soares with the helpers.

12:26: The third time’s the charm as Bishop makes two saves, but UW’s Ben Street roofs a backhand over the sprawled netminder to make it 4-2 Badgers.

16:31: TV timeout shortly after another Wisconsin penalty has expired, and time is beginning to slip away for the Black Bears.

17:30 Maine pulls Bishop. At 18:16, the puck’s in the back of the Black Bear net. Earl ices it, making it 5-2 Wisconsin.

20:00: It’s over. Eagles and Badgers on Saturday night. It’s been fun!

Wow. What a great game. It reminded me of an old-fashioned Division III barnburner. Lots of goals. Loads of power plays. Three short-handed goals. 72 total shots on goal.

The goals came fast and furious, and BC needed every one of them for the win.

“The game featured a great rush from us early,” said BC head coach Jerry York. “And then we were just hanging on there at the end. North Dakota came on very, very strong – even with 12 seconds left and a center-ice faceoff.

“I’ve learned over the years that the game is never over until that whistle blows and the kids can start the celebration.”

“I thought we were real good early, then settled down and played solid hockey through the game,” said BC’s Stephen Gionta. “We got a little tentative with the lead, and the Fighting Sioux came back really hard on us. It’s an excellent team that they have, and we feel very proud to move on to the championship game.

“You could see at the end of the game that they don’t give up. Their top two lines are among the best in the country. They just keep coming at you. The lead really helped us late in the game.”

It was strange to see Gionta on the blue line — the senior was pressed into service when senior captain Peter Harrold was shaken up.

“The last time I played defense was in juniors,” said Gionta. “Peter (Harrold) went down with an injury; he fought through it and gave us what he could. And he showed some guts today. He’s a real leader for us. The coaches came to me and told me what to do and I just went out there and tried to do my best. I tried to keep it simple — not hold on to the puck too long. It worked out for us today and we had an outstanding effort from the entire team.”

“I’m proud of the guys in the locker room,” said North Dakota goaltender Jordan Parise. “We never quit all game, but BC is a good hockey team and when you get down on them a couple goals it’s definitely hard to regain your focus and battle back.”

But the future bodes well for the Sioux, which can build on a season that saw a young squad mature quickly.

“We definitely had a lot of ups and downs at the beginning, being a young team with not that much experience,” said Parise. “Our main goal was to get better each week and try to win hockey games. As the season went on, I think we became more of a team and developed into a real team. It just didn’t go our way today, but overall we accomplished a lot this season.”

Thanks to USCHO’s Melissa Wade for the photo — she’s the best!

With six writers, two editors and two photographers, USCHO executive editor Scott Brown has his hands full doling out the assignments and coordinating the coverage. We have four seats in the press box and people will be cycling in and out based on their job. I will be in the press box for the second semifinal.

People are pitching story ideas to Brown, including Dave Hendrickson, who wants to do an in-depth piece on UND’s cheerleaders. That one’s nixed.

For this game, I have the choice of watching this game on TV in the pressroom or trying to find an empty seat in the stands. I locate one in the nosebleed section (near USCHO’s publisher, Tim Brule, who apparently doesn’t have much clout in matters like this), but there really isn’t a bad seat in the building.

The first period is a strange one, with UND having a distinct advantage in puck possession, but BC getting three goals. The Sioux would have their chances, but then the Eagles would take the puck down the ice and score.

More from this game later.

The press is supposed to be objective, but we are all fans as well. The folks that work at USCHO started out as college hockey fans, and turned that love of the game into an opportunity to share that with other fans, giving them a place to come together to be informed and to share in the passion.

That said, I am a fan of all four teams here. Great teams, great players, great coaches. Any would make a worth champion. You have North Dakota, back to the Frozen Four with 13 freshmen. Maine, here for another chance at the prize that has eluded Tim Whitehead. Wisconsin, the virtual home team, riding the amazing play of Brian Elliott.

And then there’s BC, my sentimental favorite. It’s a Rochester thing – BC has had a pipeline from my hometown since the days of Marty Reasoner. Since then, players from Rochester to star at BC include Brian and Stephen Gionta, and Chris Collins. Adam Reasoner is a rookie backup goaltender. I’ve seen some of these kids play since PeeWees.

My head says North Dakota will win the first semifinal, but my heart is with BC. Either way, a worthy team will advance.

The USCHO staff is in the house at the Bradley Center after a long evening of studying media guides…ok, not really. We have 10 staffers working the Frozen Four and at least that many staff and associate staff here attending the games. About 15 of us went to dinner at the Rock Bottom Brewery last night and then attending a reception by one of the major equipment manufacturers.

But now we’re here, bright eyed and bushy tailed…whatever the heck that means. Sioux and Eagles drop the puck in about 2 hours.

Maine and then finally Wisconsin take the ice and then answer questions. For the Black Bears, it’s their eighth straight trip to the NCAA tournament and fifth Frozen Four appearance in the past seven years. For Wisconsin, it’s the Badgers’ third straight trip to the dance, but the first time to make it this far since 1992.

The gist of these press conferences centers around Wisconsin being a virtual home team, like Minnesota was in 2002.

Maine senior forward Greg Moore:
“We’ve had a history of playing the home team in the NCAA Tournament. We’re fine with that, and excited about the opportunity and the atmosphere that it’s going to bring to the game tomorrow night. It’s a great opportunity to be in the Frozen Four again – our team is happy about the way we’ve been playing lately, and we’re proud of how far we’ve come. Our goal is to win a national championship, so we’re looking forward to getting on the ice…it should be a hard-fought game and we’re looking forward to it.”

Maine senior defenseman Steve Mullin:
“Playing the home team brings that much more emotion to the game. It’s going to be a great thing to be part of and hopefully we’ll play well.”

Maine head coach Tim Whitehead, when asked if Wisconsin would be under more pressure playing at home:
“I don’t know. That’s something they have to address themselves. As far as Maine goes, we came here to do something special and we have the opportunity to do that. We know this will be a challenge and they will have a huge home ice advantage.”

Wisconsin senior forward Adam Burish:
“I don’t think it’s pressure — it’s excitement. We’re excited to be here in Milwaukee. All year you reporters have asked, ‘Wouldn’t it be special to be here?’ Yeah, it’s special. It’s unbelievable. This is the ultimate stage of college hockey. We’re excited.”

Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves:
“We’ve had the opportunity to play a lot of big games in the state of Wisconsin already this year. We played the Frozen Tundra game at Lambeau Field and in the regional. We were part of an epic college hockey game in the Green Bay regional final. Here we are one more time in the state and we have to opportunity to do something very special here.”

As the final press conference concludes, the players wrap things up and head back to their hotels, while the press file their stories.

When we’re done, I’ll lug back the 14 media guides available in the press area. A little light reading…about 8 inches worth.

USCHO and the rest of the college hockey world are converging on Milwaukee. What started as a trickle of folks at the Bradley Center at noon has turned into quite a crowd. We’ll all here for the practices and press conferences.

Each of the four teams takes the ice for an hour and fifteen minutes, then spends some quality time with the press. The BC presser is sparcely attended as the press are still arriving. My favorite quote from the BC press conference is coach Jerry York’s response to a question concerning a possible distraction to the team with Chris Collins in the running for the Hobey:

“Chris was terrific. He had mentioned he had heard Brian Gionta talk a number of years ago about, ‘I’m going to Albany to win one trophy.’ And I think he’s got that mindset. He’s brought that up to the players…we would love to see Chris win the Hobey. But he said, ‘I would like to win one trophy, and the one trophy is the NCAA trophy.”

After that it’s time to take in a little practice. North Dakota is on the ice, going through drills for what they hope won’t be the last time this season. The Sioux look relaxed, but all business. If they win, they’ll practice Friday morning in front of several hundred fans looking for something to do on the off day. But on Wednesday, the barn is empty except for a few bored media types who are sitting in the seats chatting and killing time until the Sioux come off the ice and face the cameras and tape recorders.

A sampling:

“It’s really cool (being here). I grew up in a small town. You always watch stuff like this, the big events on TV and to be part of it two years in a row; it’s a great feeling. With all the media hype and the fans…it’s a great ride.”

– North Dakota senior forward Mike Prpich

“This is obviously what you work for all year. We did have a young team at the beginning of the year, but I think, even now, you can’t really consider them young anymore and inexperienced because we went through the WCHA Final Five and also getting out of the regional. I mean, that’s more experience than a lot of guys can say they have.”
– North Dakota junior forward Drew Stafford.

“There certainly isn’t a change in philosophy. There is a different personality…we don’t have the have the same physical presence as last year, but that is because of the number of younger players we have on defense. We are emphasizing the same philosophy, though. We have more skill this year, but you still have to work hard and if you don’t, talent won’t make a difference.”
– North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol

Back later with highlights from Maine and Wisconsin.

In addition to the usual unbeatable coverage of the Frozen Four by USCHO.com, we’re adding a blog this season. I’ll be offering an insider’s view of what’s going on in Milwaukee, both on the ice and off. Coming soon, you’ll be able to read other blogs at USCHO.com covering the various teams and leagues.

Check back frequently as I’ll be updating often.