BY STEPHEN NESBITT For AnnArbor.com

ST. PAUL, Minn. — As he stepped onto the ice at Xcel Energy Center, Louie Caporusso had a momentary flashback.

More than four years after his last trip to St. Paul, Caporusso, a senior forward on the Michigan hockey team, was back in the arena where he scored his first college goal. And it was a big one.

With the Wolverines deadlocked with then No. 2-ranked Boston College in the opening round of the 2007 Ice Breaker Invitational, Caporusso tallied the overtime winner to give Michigan a 4-3 victory.

Now the hero’s back, and he has another top-ranked foe staring back at him, as Michigan prepares to face No. 2-ranked North Dakota in tonight’s Frozen Four semifinal (8:30 p.m., ESPN2).

“It’s great being back here in Minnesota,” Caporusso said following Michigan’s practice Wednesday. “I remember it like it was yesterday, playing our first game against BC. We are really excited to be back here and we have a big job ahead of us.”

That big job, in the form of the Fighting Sioux, is the most formidable opponent Michigan has seen this year. But Caporusso has one of the better supporting casts in the nation.

The 12-man freshman class that Caporusso entered with has shrunk to eight (seven if you remove returning senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick), but these Wolverines are laden with experience.

As freshmen, the seniors made Michigan’s last trip to the Frozen Four, but lost in overtime to Notre Dame — a team also in this year’s Frozen Four.

“None of us are truly satisfied with just getting here,” senior forward Matt Rust said.

“My freshman year, there is still a bitter taste in my mouth just coming so close and losing in overtime. But other than the team, there really isn’t anything different.”

One difference, though, is that while Michigan skated Wednesday afternoon, a fine contingent of green-and-white-clad Fighting Sioux faithful was already filing into the arena.

North Dakota fans have come out in full force; Michigan isn’t fazed.

“North Dakota is going to have a lot of fans here, but we’re not concerned about the rink or who is coming, we are just concerned with how we are going to play,” Caporusso said. “We like playing on the road, so if it’s a hostile atmosphere, so be it.”

Michigan coach Red Berenson half-jokingly mentioned that he expects Minnesota fans to counteract the Fighting Sioux fans at the Xcel Energy Center.

“I think they will root for Michigan,” Berenson said. “I know the animosity between Minnesota and North Dakota. If it was a game at Michigan State, (Spartan fans) would be cheering for North Dakota. We have to play our best game of the season, no matter who is here.”

Berenson’s defense will have its hands full with an ever-dangerous Fighting Sioux offense. The top two lines for North Dakota — led by 36-goal scorer Matt Frattin — has combined for a total of 121 goals, averaging nearly three goals per game.

Many entire teams wouldn’t mind averaging three goals per game.

Few teams have found a way to slow down the Fighting Sioux — but the only three teams to topple mighty North Dakota this calendar year are Minnesota, Nebraska-Omaha and Colorado College, teams Michigan has a 4-2 record against.

“We need to play our game, and if we let them do what they are good at, they will do it,” Berenson said. “We need to stay on the ice, be responsible with the puck and be ultra responsible without the puck. If you give this team out-numbered rushes and power plays they will take you right out of the game.”

Extras

Berenson refused to give an official decision regarding whether junior defenseman Brandon Burlon would be in Thursday’s lineup, saying it would be a game-day decision. Burlon missed the past two weekends of hockey due to esophagitis. …

Junior forward David Wohlberg skated with the Wolverines in practice, but Berenson confirmed that Wohlberg would not play other than participating in non-contact drills. …

The winner of Michigan/North Dakota will punch its ticket to the Frozen Four final against the winner of a today's 5 p.m. semifinal between Notre Dame and Minnesota Duluth.