Title shot music to his ears

Smith hopes Eagles put on a performance

BC forward Ben Smith celebrates after an Eagle goal Thursday. (John Bohn/Globe Staff)

DENVER - Before the start of a game at Conte Forum early in the 2007-08 season, sophomore Ben Smith was lined up along the blue line listening to the Boston College band play the national anthem. At the end, Smith realized something was missing, so the next day he went to coach Jerry York.

"I said to him, 'It was great to have the anthem,' " said York. "And [Smith] said, 'Yeah, but there was no cymbal at the end.' "

York tracked down band director Aaron Goldberg and told him what Smith had noticed, and Goldberg confirmed that the cymbal was absent that night.

When music is in your blood, as it in Smith's by virtue of his father, Larry, who is a music professor at the University of Hartford, and his mother, Marguerita, a former concert pianist who now teaches at a private girls' high school, it's hard not to focus on what you're hearing.

And it is that attention to detail that has made Smith such an important factor in the Eagles' run to the national championship game, which will be played tonight against upstart Notre Dame at the Pepsi Center. The longtime football opponents are authoring another chapter, this time in hockey.

It is the third straight year BC has made it to the final. The last two ended in bitter disappointment - losses to Wisconsin in 2006 and Michigan State last year. In Thursday's 6-1 rout of North Dakota in the semifinals, Smith's line produced four goals and four assists. Junior left wing Nathan Gerbe had a hat trick and an assist, freshman center Brian Gibbons had two assists, and Smith had a goal and an assist.

"When we jumped out to 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, you thought, 'Is this really happening? Are you serious?' " said Smith, a 19-year-old native of Avon, Conn. "It was just unbelievable. We had guys step up, everyone stepped up."

Last season was a baptism by fire for Smith. When York decided to put senior center Brian Boyle back on the blue line for the stretch run and postseason, he needed someone in the pivot between Gerbe and right wing Brock Bradford. Smith got the call and played very well.

"Last year, it was out of necessity," said York. "We needed defensive help, we had some injuries. We were thinking, 'Who could we move up there?' We were experimenting. He fit in so well there late last year. This year, we knew we had a pretty good player and that he was going to be a key guy for us, but he keeps on getting better. His footwork is better, his puck skills are better."

That was evident against the Fighting Sioux. On BC's sixth goal, Gibbons's long lead pass sprung Gerbe and Smith for a two-on-one. Gerbe dished a backhanded pass from the right circle across the slot to Smith, who one-timed it past J.P. Lamoureux at 11:58 of the second period.

Smith said playing with Gerbe has been a blast.

"He's just moving all the time," said Smith. "He's flying and you've got to make quick decisions. In that two-on-one, you know he's going to pass to you because that's just the kid he is. He always passes back door. It's been a lot of fun playing the last year or so."

Gerbe said he and Smith have developed an on-ice chemistry that has allowed them to know where the other is going to be at all times, and that has confounded opponents.

"He's been very impressive since freshman year," said Gerbe. "The end of his freshman year was a nice adjustment for Brock and I. He has a great presence in front of the net. If you look at most of his goals, it's right around the crease area. That's where he's going to end up making his living down the stretch after college. He's been great at it and he continues to do it."

York said Smith started out in a more defensive role but has evolved into an offensive force.

"Benny came in as more of a solid, checking-line player for us," said York. "Through practice and just hard work, he's developed his skill level and he's gone off the charts as far scoring goals and creating plays. He's shown as much improvement as anyone on our team going from what we perceived as a hard-nosed, checking-type player to now someone who has 24 goals [second on the team to Gerbe's 33]. He's producing a lot of offense."

As for Smith's formal musical side, that has been put on hold.

"I used to play the guitar and the trombone and sing in the choir," he said. "Now we sing in the locker room."

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell can be reached at marrapese@globe.com.