ST. LOUIS – Prior to an important game – OK, any home game – it isn’t uncommon for the members of the Maine*iaks section to be gathering outside Alfond Arena at 7 a.m.

By securing their spots at the front of the line, the University of Maine students who make up that diehard group guarantee they get their preferred balcony seats to watch the Black Bear hockey team.

Wednesday morning, four students who have occupied the front row for the last four seasons again got in line bright and early – this time to take a 6 a.m. flight out of Portland International Jetport to make the trip to the NCAA Frozen Four.

By 1 p.m. (noon CDT), Maine*iaks mainstays and hockey enthusiasts Aaron Ward of Searsport, Greg Hall of Winsted, Conn., Kaitlin Merrill of Skowhegan, and Katie Stone of South Bend, Ind., were watching UMaine go through its practice at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis.

“We’re on about two hours of sleep,” said Ward, a senior secondary education major who began following the team during its run to the 1993 NCAA national championship. “This is our third Frozen Four, so we’ve been pretty lucky.”

Once at the arena, there were no lines and no waiting. The group of friends sat down together in randomly chosen seats to watch the Bears make final preparations for today’s 4 p.m. national semifinal against Michigan State.

Three of them were wearing UMaine sweatshirts, while Hall sported a dark blue hockey jersey that included the green “SW” shamrock patch that serves as a tribute to late UMaine coach Shawn Walsh.

“It’s from Walsh’s last year,” Hall said of the jersey.

The senior forestry major got his introduction to hockey at the professional level as his grandmother took him to see the former Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League back when he was in kindergarten. He also played high school hockey.

UMaine senior assistant captain Mike Lundin wasn’t surprised to hear about the group’s efforts to come see the Frozen Four.

“I wish we could talk more or have more of a personal connection with those fans that do support us so much and fly out here,” Lundin said. “It would be nice to get to know those guys a little bit better.”

Any Black Bears fan who has attended a game in Orono during the last four seasons has shared the experience with these Maine*iaks.

“I don’t think any of us have missed a home game in our four or five years of school,” Ward said. “We’re more of a hockey family.”

This particular group, which normally includes one more member, takes tremendous pride in its devotion to the team. They have occupied Seats 05 through 09 in Section FF, Row 1 at Alfond Arena for 74 consecutive games dating to Oct. 18, 2003.

“On average, we probably spend 10 or 12 hours a day, every Friday and Saturday [in line],” Ward explained of home weekends.

“We’re superstitious,” Hall said. “We need to keep our seats. When we’re done, somebody else can have them.”

Undaunted by rain, cold, wind or snow, the students stake their claim to the seats by lining up and waiting. Win or lose, the Maine*iaks accept the result as part of the experience.

“We want to be part of the group and carry on the tradition of the student section,” Ward said. “It’s more of a social event than just the hockey part of it.”

Some games have been worth the effort. Others, not so much.

“I’d say the best was Denver last year in the hurricane,” Merrill, a senior business major, said of UMaine’s 4-2 victory on Oct. 15, 2005. “Or UNH my freshman year when it was freezing cold … and we beat them.”

Then there were last November’s lopsided losses to New Hampshire (8-2) and Boston College (4-3, overtime) on consecutive weekends.

The fervor of the Maine*iaks and many other fans isn’t lost on UMaine players.

“Their dedication means a lot and it definitely gets us excited,” said Bears senior Mike Hamilton. “We play with a lot of passion thinking about the support and the dedication the fans have.”

There hasn’t been much drama this week for Stone, Merrill and the gang, although they did have to shop around to find a decent price on airline tickets. Anything is an improvement on last year’s 24-hour bus ride to Milwaukee for the Frozen Four.

And, after suffering through back-to-back sweeps at Massachusetts that nearly kept the Bears out of the NCAA Tournament, it’s all gravy.

“They’ve got us believing again,” Hall said. “They’ve got nothing to lose.”

In analyzing keys for the Bears against Michigan State, Ward cited the physical play of the fourth line as being an important factor. Merrill said it is simpler than that.

“I think Bishop is the glue,” she said.

The Maine*iaks quartet pointed out it was missing a key member of the group in St. Louis. Jess Barton, Ward’s girlfriend, always sits in Section FF, Row 1, Seat 09 at home games. She remained in Orono because of academic commitments.

“I told her I’d buy her a sweatshirt,” Ward said.

None of them seems too worried about the possibility of this being the end of an era. Ward already has two season tickets, while Hall hopes to catch as many games as is feasible after graduation.

“I’ll be commuting from Connecticut,” Ward said. “We’ll see how it works. The road games will be easier.”

Do they believe UMaine can win its third national title?

“They usually make it worthwhile, in the end,” Ward said. “That’s our reward for all those hours well spent.”