The Michigan hockey team must be experiencing flashbacks.
After earning a spot in the national semifinals - both of which will be played Thursday in Milwaukee - Michigan became the third team that participated last season's semis to return this year.
Colorado College (25-14-4) and Boston University (25-8-6) both know the drill. Each fell to Michigan (35-3-4) - the Terriers in the semifinals and the Tigers in the final - and are staring at a similar situation next weekend.
North Dakota (29-10-2) is the other semifinalist and will face Colorado College at 1 p.m.
Michigan, the heavy favorite to win the tournament, will play the late game against Boston, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Unfortunately for the Terriers, remembering the past will not elicit positive memories.
Michigan trounced Boston, 4-0, in last season's semifinal game, a point when the Terriers entered the game ranked No.1.
Michigan coach Red Berenson was not concerned about the revenge factor entering into Boston's preparation.
"A team in the final four would not need an extra incentive to play its best hockey," he said.
And this is a different team than the one the Wolverines saw last time.
"We seem to be very focused pretty well going into this tournament," Boston coach Jack Parker said. "And if we're not, we got a good slap in the face watching Michigan do what they did to a great Minnesota team."
Michigan's 7-4 victory over the Gophers was the last of the quarterfinal games Sunday. Now, the Wolverines must prepare to face a different Boston team than it saw last season.
"We've had a harder route than the last few years," Parker said. "We had to earn the bye (for the regional round). We've had some tough situations all year, and it's not going to get any tougher than playing Michigan."
Last season, the Terriers were the defending national champions and favored to retain their title. The Michigan game crushed those hopes.
At the time, Boston was the top offensive team in the nation, a distinction that hardly applies to this season's squad.
"It's almost a completely different look," Parker said. "This year's team is more defensive-minded."
Of the three teams which had a bye in the regional round, only Clarkson did not advance to Milwaukee. The game off played into the hands of Michigan, North Dakota and Boston - all earned the bye after winning both the league regular-season and playoff titles.
The only team that did not participate in last season's festivities, North Dakota, is now one of the teams standing. After putting away Cornell, 6-2, in the early game at the West Regional on Sunday, the Fighting Sioux earned the right to play Colorado College - for the sixth time this season.
Despite advancing from the regional, North Dakota is in unfamiliar territory.
"We're certainly happy to be here after being out of the tournament for 10 years," North Dakota coach Dean Blais said. "(It's been) a Cinderella season for us.
"For the other three coaches, it is kind of old hat to be there."
The Sioux are facing a slight dilemma, however. While the majority of the North Dakota players are healthy, Hobey Baker finalist Jason Blake is nursing an injury.
"I think he'll play," Blais said. "But he's questionable right now."
The matchup in the national semifinals will pit the Sioux against Colorado College, two opponents from the same conference.
"At least we know there will be a WCHA team in the championship game," Blais said.
The Tigers had a much tougher road to the semifinals than the other three teams.
Colorado College was one of the last teams to get into the tournament - as evidenced by its No. 6 seed in the East Regional, but victories over No. 3 seed New Hampshire and top-seeded Clarkson earned a repeat trip to the national stage.
Against Clarkson, the Tigers jumped out to a 5-1 lead only to see that advantage dissolve into a 5-4 nail-biter. But survival was the final result, and Colorado College gets one more shot at North Dakota.
"It's a pleasure to be back," Colorado College coach Don Lucia said. "Especially for this team compared to where we were a month ago. We were certainly a team that had to play our way in - not only to the final four, but the NCAA tournament itself."
Lucia knows the source of his team's improbable run - senior netminder Judd Lambert.
"It's amazing how smart you get as a coach when your goaltender is on top of his game," Lucia said. "And Lambert certainly is. He's got a lot of experience. I think he's up to a 10-1 career record in the playoffs now. And he couldn't get hotter at a more appropriate time."