In the midst of the third period on Saturday night, a night in which the Terriers destroyed the fifth-best college hockey team in the United States, a primal scream resounded from the top of the student section.

“Now THIS, is BU HOCKEY!!!!” said the older, hirsute beast.

And the crowd went wild.

Prompted by the BU band playing Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” a familiar creature in his mid-30s descended the stadium stairs toward the ice, tore off his shirt, and energized the BU faithful.

His name is Sasquatch, and he only does this for games that mean something.

Michigan’s first trip to Agganis Arena, and its first venture to BU since 1991, certainly qualified this as a game that meant something. It didn’t hurt that the Wolverines were ranked fifth in the national poll, one spot ahead of the No. 6 Terriers. Or the fact that BU was attempting to wrap up the month of October with a 4-1-0 record after beginning 0-4-1 last season.

The combination of factors I’ve mentioned brought out everyone on Saturday night. A record 6,400 fans packed the arena to watch BU win, 7-2, in a match where the visitors where completely overmatched. BU scored two goals in the first, added two more in the second, and netted three more in the third. Michigan failed to get one by goalie Kieran Millan until the final period, but the outcome was pretty much decided by that point.

For someone who’s thinking about attending BU, I would like to show you what the games are really like for students. I want to take you beyond the box score and the highlights.

First, do not be concerned that a hockey game will interfere with going out for the night—in fact, my friends and I have come to the conclusion that the 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. start times are ideal. As college students, we don’t leave for a party or bar until 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m. anyway. A hockey game ends by 9:30 p.m. in most cases, and the game helps to fill a gap of time that you don’t want to use for your studies.

BU hockey games would not be the same without the band. Hands down, they outshine all other schools, and this is most apparent during the annual Beanpot tournament, in which Boston’s four major hockey schools (BU, BC, Harvard and Northeastern) face-off. Watch this video—note the last song played, which we simply call “The Song.” It gets the students fired up more than any other. And we say the “BC sucks” part even when we aren’t played the Eagles. It’s like the Red Sox fans chanting “Yankees Suck” when Boston is playing the Kansas City Royals. There’s an obsession with the hated rival, and we like to express our opinion of them as often as possible. This song also drew widespread attention two years ago for its profanity.

The seating behind each goal at Agganis is reserved for students. Section 118 marks the epicenter of the student section, which shares precious real estate with the band. At every game two guys dress up as Jesus and as a hotdog. Others wear masks, face paint, and the BU hockey sweater. I simply wear red or white t-shirts. You will find your own cup of tea.

Everyone in the student section knows the cheers and how to perform them. At the start of the game, after the introduction video, BU students turn their backs on the visiting team as Jim Prior, the public address announcer, declares its starting lineup. When BU is on a power play, students hum/chant/sing “The Song.” When the other team is on a power play, we clap and hum/chant/sing “Olé.” Yes, it’s more of a soccer hooligan thing, but we do it anyway. “Olé” carries on for the full two minutes of the opposing team’s power play. In the final 11 seconds, clapping ceases in lieu of counting down the seconds until BU is back at full strength.

During two of the three periods, the visiting goalie has the pleasure of minding the net that resides in front of the most raucous of the two student sections (118). Whenever this goalie, or “sieve,” lifts his mask to take a drink, students chant “ug-ly goal-ie” until he returns his mask down to its rightful position over his face.

Other non-game activities enhance the entertainment factor as well. The iPod giveaway dance contest, which shows random people in the crowd dancing for their chance at a free iPod is merely a crowd warm-up act to the Kiss Cam. The Kiss Cam usually points at the crowd between the second and third periods, and it induces plenty of awkward kisses and other friendly gestures. Sometimes it’s the 60 year-olds who are the frisky ones. Other times it’s the college-aged couple who really aren’t a couple at all. Hey, Kiss Cam makes mistakes, too.

The combination of top-flight hockey, the best pep band in Boston, a rowdy student body, and (often) top-flight entertainment off the ice make BU hockey games an event worthy of your time.

And did I mention the hairy, 30-something year old who takes off his shirt?