ORONO – University of Maine freshman Monica Squires is from Merrimack, N.H.

“But I’m a convert,” she says.

She is referring to her allegiance to the Black Bear hockey team rather than UNH.

Squires is one of 30-40 fans who camped out overnight Tuesday to obtain one of the 75 tickets allocated to the students for the Frozen Four at the FleetCenter in Boston on April 8-10. The ticket office at Alfond Arena opened at 8:30 a.m.

“I hope the boys [hockey players] know we’re here,” she added.

Wes Weiner, a freshman from Pottsville, Pa., began camping out at 10:30 a.m.

He was the first in line for the tickets.

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” said Weiner. “I’m a huge hockey fan and this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get Frozen Four tickets.

“It was definitely a good time although it was four hours before anybody else showed up,” said Weiner who said occasional snow flurries “served as an alarm clock.”

“It was cold but it was definitely worth it. They’re going all the way,” said sophomore Chris Curlew of Scarborough.

Some brought futons and laundry baskets. There were DVD players, televisions and radios. Some of them played Xbox. There were pizza deliveries.

Irv and Karen Marsters of the Friends of Maine Hockey supplied spicy apple cider and soup.

“We watched ’42-1-2′,” said Squires referring to the documentary about Maine’s first NCAA championship season in 1992-93. “We played cell phone games. I got about two hours of sleep.

“We watched the movie ‘Office Space,” contributed Searsport’s Aaron Ward.

“Believe it or not, I did some homework,” said Milo’s Eli Ladd.

“There weren’t any distractions [hampering studying],” said Squires.

Matt McGraw of Burlington, Ontario spent the night in his Ford Explorer and listened to music.

Aaron Smith of Lincoln called it an “awesome experience” and Scarborough’s Brigid McGovern also considered it memorable.

New friends were made.

“It was a bonding experience,” said Ward.

“It’s good to meet some of the people you’ll be going to the Frozen Four with,” said Ladd.

The dedicated fans said they are confident the Bears can bring home the hardware.

“I think they have an excellent chance. The difference between this year’s team and last year’s team has been [better] goaltending and the senior leadership. Everybody is more focused. There isn’t the dissension they had last year,” said Ward.