I spent Saturday night the same way many of you likely did. I went down to my local watering hole, grabbed a frosty pint of my favorite brew, and proceeded to celebrate what little Irish heritage I have.

While living up the St. Patrick’s Day festivities with my friends, I glanced up at the TV behind the bar. Just starting was the Hockey East Championship game between the University of Maine and Boston College.

I’m a Mainer, and some of my earliest sports memories just happen to be when the Black Bears captured the 1992-93 NCAA Championship against Lake Superior, capping a 42-1-2 season. The lightning speed of Paul Kariya. The 1-2 goaltending combo of Mike Dunham and Garth Snow. The legend that became Shawn Walsh. Remembering Jim Montgomery and the little engine that could, Cal Ingraham. I was young enough to think the first family of hockey was the Ferraro brothers, because both Chris and Peter were playing for the Black Bears, and at that particular time in my life, no other hockey team mattered, not even the Boston Bruins.

In 1999, I was a 14-year-old, lying like a dog on family night, face-first in front of the TV, eyes transfixed on the Black Bears going after title No. 2. It was a memory not forgotten. I remember every detail of UMaine winning the title that night against archrival University of New Hampshire. Heck, I even remember ESPN interviewing actor Kurt Russell, who gave his seal of approval to the Black Bears, upping his cool status with me.

With all that said, it was easy to assume I’d be rooting for UMaine, right?

Wrong.

Across the ice stood Boston College defenseman and Biddeford native Brian Dumoulin. Over my time as a journalist, I’ve chatted with Brian on a couple of occasions, and a nicer young man you will never meet ”“ a credit that goes in part to his parents, Pete and Deb Dumoulin. Brian’s achievements in hockey have been listed on several occasions in this newspaper, and this season, the achievements and honors are growing. Dumoulin is a finalist for the Hobey Baker award, the most prestigious honor in all of college hockey. If that’s not enough, his future is already set, as he was picked in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.

As a sports writer, we are taught to be unprejudiced, to call everything down the middle. But getting to know Brian, just a little, over the years like I did, you can’t help but root for him. And since I was off the clock that particular evening, that’s exactly what I did.

And as I was on my second glass of Guinness, it hit me: This must be what York County hockey fans, specifically Biddeford hockey fans, fight amongst themselves about on a regular basis.

There’s no doubt Maine is the home team, the team to root for at all times ”“ except when it plays Boston College. Then it becomes the emotional tug of war. Do I root for the home team? Or do I say to heck with it, go Benedict Arnold for one night only, to root for the local boy who made good?

For one night, I (silently) rooted for Boston College, specifically for Dumoulin ”“ and let’s not forget his teammate, and Kennebunk High School product Brian Billett, who will soon make his mark and force me to make this decision again later. The Eagles defeated the Black Bears 4-1 for the Hockey East title, the third of Dumoulin’s career with the Eagles, who have also won a national championship during his tenure. Sadly, it was also the second time Dumoulin and the Eagles have done such a thing to UMaine, as they also beat the Black Bears in the championship game during the 2010 season.

But the beauty of it, folks, and what I later realized, is that it doesn’t have to be a struggle. In fact, it’s the greatest win-win situation you could imagine. Sure, the Black Bears lost, but we now know that they’ll be in the NCAA Tournament, still with a chance to win another national title. And Dumoulin continues his fantastic season, collecting accolades, making his mark.

In the end, as York County hockey fans, we all win. We witness one of our own taking his place in the hockey world, even if for one night it was at the expense of our state’s team.

So on it continues, into the NCAA Tournament. I’ll continue to do what I always do as a hockey fan, root for the Black Bears to win it all. But I will also root for Dumoulin to continue his impressive career, not only in college, but well into the NHL.

By the way, if the national championship comes down to Boston College vs. UMaine, I’m sorry Dumoulin family, but Brian and the Eagles are going down.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 323.