A long line of Black Bear fans waited outside the Alfond Arena on Friday night to get into the first game of the University of Maine men’s hockey team’s regular season.

It was also the first game day for the Black Bears inside the newly renovated Alfond Arena, with fans marveling at the $50 million facelift and reveling in the return of college hockey — even if it meant waiting a little longer to get inside the building.

“Everybody’s happy to be here,” season ticket holder Tam Trafford of Dedham said outside the stadium before the game. “If you have to stand in line, you have to stand in line.”

She was excited to see the newly renovated building, which includes a new entryway, new concession stand and larger merchandise area, much larger locker rooms along with player lounges, and m

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