GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- For more than half a century now, I have been the luckiest media member in all of college hockey.

First as a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald, and upon retirement in 2005 as a writer for UND, I have enjoyed a press box seat at center ice for every home game at the palace on the prairie, Ralph Engelstad Arena.

As a former goalie at NCAA Division III St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., to graduate to the big time with the media at NCAA Division I power North Dakota, I fully realize and appreciate the opportunity and honor I have had for so many years.

It's not just the privilege of having one of the best seats for viewing in The Ralph, but access to coaches and players after games is an opportunity I treasure after each home game.

It's not just the caliber of play on the ice I see every year from North Dakota and its opponents, but there's top notch talent flanking me on both sides of my press box seat.

At my right sits Brad Schlossman, the Herald hockey reporter who is hands down the best in the nation at his craft. He worked part-time at the Herald when he was a college student at UND, and I was the beat writer for UND hockey.

His expertise and talent showed early, and he took the coverage of UND hockey up to the elite level when he took over the coverage of UND hockey when I retired. His research into the players and programs around the country is legendary.

Sitting to my left in the press box is another gem of a reporter, Eric Burton, who writes weekly blogs on UND hockey. He's a military veteran, as I am, so that is a bond we share as well.

Last Saturday, I stayed home with a severe cold rather than pass that on to other reporters, or to players in the media room in post-game interviews. It was the responsible thing to do, and of course the radio and TV coverage of UND hockey is outstanding. A shout out especially to Tim Hennessy and Alex Heinert for that.

I traded text messages with Burton as the game with Bemidji State headed to overtime, asking him to pick who would score the overtime winner, while offering up my choices to him.

I picked hard-shooting freshman Jack Kernan of UND and Max Vig of Bemidji as my choices from each team for the OT winner.

Burton had far better insight than I did. He replied with confidence that UND was going to win the game, and that he was taking rookie Will Zellers to score the winner.

Bingo. Zellers scores. UND wins. Burton wins our little two-man game of Pick the Winner.

I salute him for that. And UND as well, finishing off the sweep of a BSU team that always battles UND hard.

Virg Foss writes a weekly column for UND during the hockey season. He can be reached at virgfoss@yahoo.com.