ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Dan Hannigan has broadcast some great University of Maine men’s hockey moments.

Those include the 1999 national championship game, the four-goal, third-period rally in the 2004 NCAA first-round win over Harvard, and Niko Dimitrakos’ game-winner with two seconds left to beat Boston College for the 2000 Hockey East title.

Tonight at Blue Cross Arena, Hannigan may be calling his last UMaine game when the Black Bears meet St. Cloud State (Minn.) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I think any time you do something for as long as I’ve done this – this is finishing up the 12th year – obviously you get attached to it,” Hannigan said Thursday when asked for his thoughts on ending his run with WZON radio in Bangor.

Hannigan’s future calling UMaine hockey is in doubt after Black Bear Sports Properties announced last week it had awarded the radio broadcast rights for UMaine hockey to WVOM. The station, owned by Clear Channel, will hire its own on-air talent.

Hannigan did not want to discuss anything beyond his present commitment with WZON.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen next year,” said Hannigan, who in 1995 was working as the sports anchor at WVII-TV in Bangor when Joe Carr stepped down as WZON radio’s play-by-play voice for UMaine hockey.

Hannigan applied for the position and has held it ever since.

“There have been so many great games over the years,” Hannigan said. “There’s always some excitement around the program. That’s what it really comes down to.”

Broadcasting UMaine hockey has been a labor of love for the native of Scarsdale, N.Y., who started out as a hockey novice but has worked to improve his knowledge and calling of the sport.

“He’s absolutely fabulous,” said UMaine coach Tim Whitehead. “You’re not going to find better in the game of hockey, I don’t care what the level is. He’s a first-class person and a true professional.”

More than anything, Hannigan has relished the chance to work with his friends at WZON.

“I have tremendous gratitude for WZON, and Dale Duff in particular, for giving me the opportunity to have this job,” Hannigan said. “It is the best job I’ve had in broadcasting.”

Hannigan praised Duff, Clem Labree, Pat Spekhardt, Jeff Solari, and the many others who have worked behind the scenes.

“They’ve been accommodating, even with me moving down to the southern part of the state,” said Hannigan, who two years ago moved with his family to Kittery and has commuted to Black Bear games.

Hannigan’s low-key approach to his job and his keen sense of humor have helped make him a popular media member among UMaine players.

“He does a great job,” said UMaine goaltender Ben Bishop. “He’s always a great guy to have around the locker room with the media. He’s always very polite to everybody.”

During his first season at WZON, Hannigan worked with former UMaine sports information director Matt Bourque. He has since broadcast with two other color commentators, former UMaine goalie Blair Marsh (six seasons), and BDN sports writer Larry Mahoney (five).

“Blair was a great help in terms of education of the game and the way things happened out there,” Hannigan said. “That’s where I made probably the biggest stride in terms of my ability to talk the game.”

“Larry has a historical perspective on the program,” he added. “It’s a little more statistical-based and analytical. He’s been great to work with.”

Hannigan, co-owner of Kittery-based Cod Rock Media Productions, has balanced his increasing workload to fit UMaine hockey into his busy schedule. He also owes a huge debt of gratitude to his wife Bonnie and daughters Abby, 12, and Clara, 9.

“My wife has been fantastic in terms of putting up with me being on the road late at night or just being away and missing things that I certainly do not want to miss,” he said. “She has been very patient.”

Ultimately, Hannigan’s broadcast experience at WZON has boiled down to the relationships he has built.

“That’s what makes it enjoyable ultimately,” Hannigan said. “It’s a family kind of thing. Hockey, in general, is a small, tight-knit group.”

Whether Hannigan will be a candidate for the WVOM job is unknown, but he has Whitehead in his corner.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have him and we’re going to do whatever we can within our power to keep him in the fold, because we love him,” Whitehead said.