If Maine is any bit at all intimidated by the prospect of playing the national champions this weekend, they're not showing it so far.

Facing Boston College on Sunday will, arguably, be the team's biggest test so far this season. The Eagles (5-1-0, 3-1-0 Hockey East) are ranked No. 2 in both national polls, are fourth in the country in power-play percentage (27.1, 13 for 48) and BC forward Brock Bradford leads Hockey East with six goals.

In the past 11 seasons, the Eagles have made eight Frozen Fours, have won six Hockey East tournament titles and four regular-season titles and, oh yeah, two national championships.

It's safe to say BC has a swagger.

Friday at Alfond Arena, the Black Bears discussed their approach to facing the Eagles.

"I don't think we want to prepare every different," senior forward Chris Hahn said. "It's going to be a tough task but we just want to focus on the things we've been focusing on and play well. Or it could be a long day.

"If we're going to make some noise in Hockey East this year, we're going to have to beat teams like the BCs, BUs, and UNHs."

Lem Randall, Hahn's linemate, believes the Black Bears' best bet is to stick to their systems.

"But we're going to go into this like we do every game," Randall said. "We're going to prepare ourselves the best we can. They're a new team from last year and we're a new team from last year."

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While Maine got an extra day of preparation for Boston College, the Eagles have a busy weekend.

First, BC faces Notre Dame tonight in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game (without Nathan Gerbe # Gerbe and the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates face Springfield tonight at the Cumberland County Civic Center).

Then, while the Boston College football team faces Notre Dame on Saturday, the hockey team travels to Orono, with a couple of stops along the way. The Eagles plan to practice Saturday at Bowdoin College, as Eagles assistant Mike Cavanaugh is a 1990 Bowdoin graduate.

Then, if you spot any Boston College apparel in Freeport, don't be alarmed. The Eagles will do some shopping in the outlet town and have a team meal before continuing to Orono tomorrow night.

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Andrew Orpik, the younger brother of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and alternate captain Brooks Orpik, is a senior forward for Boston College.

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The full team practiced Friday, including sophomore forward Glenn Belmore, who has yet to play this season after suffering a knee injury in an exhibition series at the University of New Brunswick.

Former Black Bear Billy Ryan took a bucket of pucks and a few laps out onto the ice at Alfond Arena prior to Friday's practice. Sorry, young Black Bears offense, his eligibility has already expired.

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The NCAA's National Letter of Intent signing period begins Wednesday (Nov. 12).

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