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University of Maine hockey fans who aren’t able to make the trip to Worcester, Mass., for Friday’s NCAA East Regional game against Minnesota will nonetheless be able to watch the contest.
WABI-TV (Channel 5) in Bangor has successfully bid with the NCAA to broadcast the Black Bears’ quest to again reach the Frozen Four.
With the cooperation of Midwest Sports Channel, WABI will carry the 8:30 p.m. Maine-Minnesota game live. If the Bears advance to the national quarterfinal game against Boston College, WABI also will carry that game.
“We see the localism as being important,” WABI program manager Steve Hiltz said of the decision to broadcast the UMaine hockey game. “Our first thought was, honestly, to bid. We want to help out the fans who want to see the game.”
Joe Carr will handle the play-by-play with Scott Smith doing color commentary for the WABI broadcast. Sports Director Tim Throckmorton will produce a half-hour pregame show starting Friday at 8 p.m.
The bid by WABI means it will not be able carry CBS’ coverage of the NCAA basketball tournament games during the hockey time slots.
However, PAX Network affiliate WBGR-TV (Channel 33) of Bangor has been awarded the rights to carry the NCAA games. WBGR will broadcast CBS’ NCAA coverage Friday from 7:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. And, if the Bears win, it will carry NCAA action Saturday from 7-9 p.m.
Hiltz said the arrangement works out well for everyone.
“As many people as you serve, you can’t make everyone happy,” Hiltz said. “[WBGR picking up the NCAA games] helps out a lot.”
In order to successfully bid for the UMaine hockey games, WABI had to find a company willing to handle the on-site production of the broadcast. WABI’s previous relationship with Midwest Sports Channel, which carries Minnesota games, made the deal possible.
“This year, the NCAA told us up front that anybody who wanted the first four games would have to arrange the production as well,” said Hiltz, who explained there are significant costs associated with putting together such a broadcast.
However, the benefits for the station and UMaine fans outweigh the possibility of the Bears being ousted from the tournament in Friday’s game.
“With hockey in general, we’ve had a lot of success. If you get lucky, you might profit from it,” said Hiltz, adding that a UMaine appearance in Saturday’s quarterfinal would likely make the venture profitable, since the NCAA will produce that game and only charges WABI a rights fee to carry the contest.
NCAA hockey bus trip planned
The University of Maine Alumni Association is sponsoring a fan bus trip to watch the Black Bears compete in the NCAA Hockey East Regional.
The package, which includes two nights at the Comfort Inn in Westborough, Mass., is $140 per person double occupancy and $180 single for Alumni Association members. The cost is $190 and $150, respectively, for non-members.
The bus leaves the Orono campus at 10 a.m. Friday and will return Saturday night after the 8:30 p.m. game.
For information, contact the UMaine Alumni Association at 1-800-934-2586.
Hockey pep rally slated Friday
The UMaine Alumni Association has planned a Black Bear Pep Rally for Friday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Irish Times Restaurant & Pub at 244 Main Street in Worcester, Mass., prior to the University of Maine’s NCAA East Region hockey game against Minnesota at the Worcester Centrum.
Hors ‘doeuvres will be served, a cash bar will be available and music will be provided by the UMaine pep band. Dinner is available in the restaurant, located on the second floor.
No reservations are required.
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