BIDDEFORD — Brian Dumoulin has played in some of the country’s biggest venues. He has won a pair of NCAA championships and, of course, each of the last two years he has been able to hoist the most famous trophy in hockey as a defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But for the two-time Stanley Cup champion, the first title he truly fought for and wanted with all his heart was the Class A state championship from the Maine Principals’ Association.

Dumoulin helped lead the Biddeford Tigers to back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008, and he is hoping to see his alma mater bring home another title tonight.

“It was fun. It was the first time I played for an important championship. It was a lot of fun to play with guys that I grew up with my whole life, and to be able to share that moment with them was an awesome feeling,” recalled Dumoulin of his state title runs with the Tigers. “It was a blast to play in those games. I still remember winning those games and getting a chance to play for a (state) championship.”

Dumoulin won his two state titles at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston — the same place where the current Tigers will go to battle for the Class A state title against Lewiston at 6 p.m. tonight.

“It was awesome. It was crowded, it was emotional and it was everything that you would want it to be, especially in high school just having both schools’ crowd out there,” said Dumoulin.

The former Boston College standout remembers the Biddeford faithful — including the school’s student section — showing up in full force for the state finals.

“I remember one of the teams (we played) was Lewiston, and obviously they bring a big crowd which should be expected this Saturday night … but I remember our crowd being just as loud and the Beak Squad being just as loud as the other crowd,” Dumoulin said.

Dumoulin is pretty busy these days as the Penguins are heading down the stretch of the regular season, but the former BHS star has tried to keep up with his former club.

 “I try to pay attention to them as much as I can, but obviously I can’t really watch any of the games. I tried to watch the last one, but I was following along on Twitter and paying attention to how they were doing,” said Dumoulin, who was keeping his current teammates updated on the Tigers’ regional title game. “Last game seemed like it was a crazy game, back-and-forth and I remember reading the (Tweets) out loud to some of the (other Penguins) and they thought it was an unbelievable game with how back-and-forth it was. It was a crazy game to follow.”

Dumoulin sent out a video message to the Tigers on social media, but he didn’t want to bother the team too much as they prepared for the biggest game of the year.

“I know one of the assistant coaches well, Tom Gildersleeve, so I’ve been talking with him a little bit throughout the season. I mean they don’t need any more pressure, (they need to) just go out there and have fun and know I’m rooting for them,” said Dumoulin. “I’m sure everyone back in Biddeford is rooting for them, but win or lose I’m still proud of them and it’s awesome that they’re getting this opportunity to play for a championship.”

Another local hockey player Dumoulin has been keeping an eye on is former Biddeford standout and current University of New England forward Brady Fleurent.

“I know Brady really well. We used to play floor hockey in his basement back in high school all the time. I mean it seems like every week we’d have a team dinner and it would be at their house and we’d go down in the basement and play floor hockey,” said Dumoulin. “I know he’s playing really well at UNE right now. I saw him last summer and worked out with him a couple times so it’s cool to see him doing really well at (the college level).”

Dumoulin is hoping the Penguins can put together another championship run this season — and the two-time defending champs seem to be turning it on at the right time.

“It’s been good. I mean it’s just like any other year, it’s had its ups-and-downs. We didn’t really start off strong and put ourselves in the best positions at the beginning of the season, but we fought back and found our way,” said Dumoulin. “It seems like after the (All-Star break) we are kind of refreshed a little bit, and we came back and we’re playing well as a team right now. This is when we want to be playing our best hockey and we want to continue to do that.”

Just like how Dumoulin’s support for Biddeford hockey will never waver, the former Tiger knows he will always have a fan base back where it all started.

“I know I still have a good following back in Biddeford and in southern Maine and Maine in general,” said Dumoulin, who tries to get back as much as possible. “It’s always cool to go back there and see people from my hometown.”

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.