Challenge:
-The Michigan Daily -Thursday, October 18, 1984- Page 9
From Blues to Blue,
Red takes command
Michigan Wolverines
Coach: Gordon "Red" Berenson
1983-84 record: 14-22-1
CCHA record: 11-18-1, 9th place
Who to watch: Senior goalies Mark
Chiamp and Jon Elliott; top retur-
ning scorer Chris Seychel; defen-
seman Todd Carlile; freshman Jeff
Norton, Joe Lockwood, Brad Mc-
Caughey. Berenson wants more
production from his forwards.
Prediction: Sixth
Berenson
Michigan State
Spartans
Coach: Ron Mason
Record: 34-12
CCHA::21-9, 2nd (tie)
Who to watch: Forwards Kelly
Miller, Craig Simpson, Bill Shibicky,
Gord Flegel; defensemen Gary
Haight, Don McSween; freshmen
Kevin Miller, Sean Clement, Tom
Tilley. Mason looks for school's first
NCAA championship since 1966.
Prediction: First
By BARB MCQUADE
Blue and Red go nicely together.
New head coach Gordon "Red"
Berenson takes the reins of the
Michigan hockey program this year in
his first season coaching at the
collegiate level. Berenson, who stresses
the mental as well as the physical
aspects of the game, hopes to use that
combination to build the Wolverines in-
to "a national college power."
THE FORMER Michigan icer retur-
ns to Ann Arbor with an impressive list
of credentials. A two-time All-
American center, Berenson also spent
22 years in the National Hockey League
-17 as a player and five as a coach.
As a senior at Michigan in 1961-62,
Berenson set a school record with 43
goals and 27 assists for 70 points in just
28 games while leading his team to a
third-place finish in the NCAA cham-
pionships. The former captain's nine
hat-tricks that year also notched a
mark in the Michigan record book.
Berenson became the first college
hockey player to join the ranks of the
NHL, playing nine games with the Mon-
treal Canadiens following his three
years on Michigan's varsity in 1962. His
NHL career consisted of 987 games in
which he scored 261 goals as a member
of four different teams: Montreal, the
New York Rangers, St. Louis, and
Detroit.
BERENSON finished his playing
career in St. Louis, where he remained
as an assistant coach after retiring.
During the 1979-80 season, he became
head coach and the following year was
named Coach-of-the-Year after leading
the Blues to a 45-18-17 record.
Dismissed from St. Louis during the
1981-82 campaign, Berenson served as
assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres
prior to his current position at
Michigan.
HE RETURNED to Ann Arbor this
summer despite coaching offers from
professional teams because of the in-
stability of coaching at that level.
"I didn't see much of a future in
coaching in the NHL. There's always a
gun at your head."
"WHEN THE situation (to coach at
Michigan) came up. I thought it would
be challenging. ' I was in the NHL for
22 years as a player and coach. The
grass isn't always as green as everyone
thinks. This is a challenge for me and
it's a challenge to give something back
to Michigan."
Berenson faces a situation all first-
year coaches must confront - that of
coaching someone else's team. The
current Wolverine icers all share the
distinction of having been recruited by
John Giordono, Michigan's head coach
for the past three and a half years, but
they seem ready to adjust to Berenson's
agressive style of hockey.
"I've got the feeling the players were
excited about a new coach," Berenson
said. "I like the positive attitude on the
team."
THE NEW Michigan coach's first
priority is improvement and he plans to
build the Wolverines into a dominant
force in college hockey.
"THE IMPROVEMENT of our
players overall will depend on the ad-
ditional players we bring in," said
Berenson. "These things don't happen
over night. Recruiting will have to be a
major part of our program. You can't
bring in a lot of players because you're
limited in the number of scholarships,
and the players we're talking about
aren't going to come without scholar-
ships. We're not going to nickel and
dime anybody."
The number of scholarships and the
players available will determine how
long it takes."
In the meantime, the Regina, Saskat-
chewan native hopes to bring out the
best in what he feels is a talented team.
"THERE'S A LOT of talent there that
didn't surface last season. We're a
much better offensive team than in-
dicated by the statistics last year.
We're capable of twice as many goals."
Aside from the talent Berenson sees,
he feels a balance of mental concen-
tration along with that physical ability
is a vital aspect to the game. His
philosophy stresses the idea that his
players' level of concentration could
prove to be a deciding factor on his
hockey club.
"The difference between playing
great or fair or poorly is a player's
mental confidence. That confidence can
make a big difference on the team."
Berenson's insight on a hockey
player's psyche goes further than just
the level of confidence. He feels that
poise on the ice is every bit as impor-
tant.
"Hockey is a game of emotion. But
you can't be at high emotion all the
time. You never want to get too high
when you win or too low when you lose.
70 percent of the game is mental. If we
go out and win two this weekend, I
won't be ecstatic. It's just as important
how you do next week. You must
always be just as prepared."
Mason
Ohio State Buckeyes
Coach: Jerry Welsh
Record: 30-10-1
CCHA: 21-9, 2nd (tie)
Who to watch: Honorable mention
all-American John Dougan; defen-
semen Mike Rousseau, Mark Shortt;
freshmen Bill Brown, Rick Brebent,
Darcy Gryba. Some say OSU is
"rebuilding," but don't believe it.
Prediction: Second
Welsh
Daily Photo by STU WEIDENBACH
Former Wolverine star Red Berenson returns this season in the head
coaching role. The longtime NHL center adds experience and knowledge to a
program in need of revival.
COACHES PICK 'M' SEVENTH:
Spartans rate as preseason choice
Western Michigan
Broncos
Coach: Bill Wilkinson
Record: 22-18-2
CCHA: 13-14-1, 5th
Who to watch: Dan Dorian, a 40-goal
scorer, forwards Troy Thrun, Lance
Johnston. Strong second half last
year has put WMU into contender's
role.
Prediction: Third
Wilkinson
Bowling Green Falcons
Coach': Jerry York
Record: 34-8-2
CCHA: 22-4-2, First
Who to watch: Jamie Wansbrogh, 34
goals last year, left winger George
Roll; freshmen Brian McKee, Scott
Pollack; goalie Gary Kruzich, 2.87
GAA last year. They're the defen-
ding NCAA champs, but half the
players are freshmen.
Prediction: Fourth
By CHRIS GERBASI
If history repeats itself, Michigan State should win
the Central Colegiate Hockey Association title this
season.
No, the Spartans are not the defending champions,'
but they are the preseason favorite in the CCHA
coaches' poll. Last year, the coaches' choice, Bowling
Green, not only won the regular season title but the
NCAA Championship as well. Perhaps a champion-
ship is in the Spartan's future.
MICHIGAN ON the other hand, has no idea what
the future may hold. A ninth-place team a year ago,
the Wolverines are rated seventh in the preseason
poll, but that's not really a sign of improvement con-
sidering two schools, Northern Michigan and
Michigan Tech, left the CCHA this year to play in the
Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Fyiear oadi Red Beremin has shakm higs up a bit
in an effort to turn the program around. Seven who
were members of the '83-'84 team failed to make the
grade this season. Seven freshmen replace them and
I'm not saying we're going to be a
powerhouse, but every line has the
potential to score.'
-Red Berenson
two of those frosh, Joe Lockwood and Brad Mc-
Caughey scored last weekend as Michigan split two
games with Miami of Ohio.
BUT BERENSON really doesn't know how to rate
his team.
"I don't know if we're a ninth-place team or better
than that," he said. "The top three lines have good
puck sense. I'm not saying we're going to be a
powerhouse, but every line has the potential to score.
The defense is a little sluggish but I think it'll be
helped by a freshman, Jeff Norton. In goal, (Mark)
Chiamp looks sharp and (Jon) Elliott should have a
better year than last year."
Berenson's coaching counterpart at East Lansing,
Ron Mason thinks the Wolverines need a little time.
"THEY HAVE good talent and once Red knows the
players better and gets a conception of his players as
a team, they can be a contender," he said. "Chiamp
is an outstanding goalie and if you're strong in goal,
you can contend."
Mason's own team seems to be strong everywhere.
Coming off a 34-12 record, Michigan State is the team
to beat because they have 20 returning lettermen and
lost only four to graduation.
"Going in on paper, we have the best returning
group. But you don't measure success on paper,"
Mason said.
THE TOP returnees for Mason include sophomore
forward Craig Simpson, who accounted for 57 points
in '83-'84, senior forward Kelly Miller, who scored 28
goals and senior center Gord Flegel, who notched 23.
The defense should be bolstered by the addition of
U.S. Olympic team member Gary Haight and
sophomore goaltenders Norm Foster and Bob Essena
combined for a league-leading 2.78 goals against
average last year.
Two years ago, Western Michigan struggled to an
11-23-2 mark, but last season, coach Bill Wilkinison
directed his team to a 22-18-2 overall record to earn
himself Coach of the Year honors. Now, the Broncos
are ready to contend for first place.
WESTERN HAS 21 returnees, led by high-flying
forward Dan Dorian. Dorian, a junior, amassed 41
goals and 50 assists for 91 points, the second highest
total in the league. Dorian is helped by junior center
Troy Thrun (23-29-52) and left wing Lance Johnston
(28-24-52). The Broncos should score a lot of goals
and they'll need to unless goalie Glenn Healy can im-
prove on his 3.90 GAA.
Bowling Green has captured the crown the past
three years and in six of the last nine seasons, but if
the Falcons are to repeat, they will have to overcome
the loss of 1 players. Still, the league's coaches feel
Bowling Green will finish at least as high as third.
"I'm not too thrilled with our place in the polls,"
said Coach Jerry York. "I don't think we should try to
compare last year's team with this year's. Last year
we accomplished some great goals, but a great
majority of those players won't be with us. So we're
starting fresh."
AND STARTING freshmen. Thirteen of 24.
players on the Falcons' roster are first year players.
York is most impressed by three defensemen, Brian
McKee, Scott Pollack and Doug Coaggett.
Ohio State will again have a solid squad despite the
loss of the celebrated Pooley Brothers, Paul and
Perry, and forward Andy Browne. The trio accounted
for 105 goals and 137 assists last year, but don't feel
sorry for coach Jerry Walsh. He has 16 returning let-
termen on his roster, and he may rely on his defense
to get the job done this season.
"I think our defense will hold the fort while we
develop our scorers," Welsh said. "I don't expect us
to win 30 games this year, but I think with input from
our freshmen and improved scoring by our returning
forwards and with our defense playing as well as they
did last year, there's no reason why we're not going to
finish high in our league."
FERRIS STATE, a team which tied for sixth last
season, could move up in the standings for no other
reason than that two teams which finished in front of
them, Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech, are no
longer in the league.
The Bulldogs lost top scorer Randy Merrifield, but
center Graham Craig (25-26-51) and left wing Paul
Couture (23-21-44) will pick up the slack. Craig and
Couture will be joined on the line by freshman center
Rod Schluter.
Senior co-captain Brad Hildestad will anchor the
defense for coach Dick Bertrand in front of goalie
Rob Hughston. While Hughston had an inflated goals
against of 4.35, he managed to post a 15-11-1 record.
THERE WILL be plenty of new faces on Lake
Superior's team as coach Frank Anzalone has
decided to keep 10 freshmen on a roster which in-
cludes only three seniors.
One of those seniors, however, is top scorer Allan
Butler. The centerman notched 28 goals and 26
assists, but after Butler the scoring threats disap-
pear. The Lakers will need added punch from junior
Keith Martin (11-13-24) and sophomore Jim Roque (9-
17-26).
The Lakers' defense should be strong, led by
seniors Chris Guy and Chris Dahlquist. Sophomore
goaltender Randy Exelby will be challenged for the
starting job by freshmen Craig Shermoen and Chris
Harris.
'Going in on paper, we have the
best returning.group, but you don't
measure success on paper.'
-MSU coach Ron Mason
COACH STEVE Cady's biggest concern at Miami
of Ohio will be replacing four-year starting goalten-
der Alain Chevrier. Sophomore Jim Lowell will step
into Chevrier's skates and hold down the number one
job. The Redskinis also return all but one defenseman
from last year.
Offensively, Miami will be led by wingers John
Ciotti (21-21-42) and Andy Cozzi (15-26-41) and center
Todd Channell (14-14-28).
Cady enjoys his underdog role as a low-rated team,
but wherever the Redskins finish, they can be sure it
won't be last place as long as Illinois-Chicago is in the
league.
THE FLAMES skated to a 5-29-1 record last year
and 6-28-2 the previous season, but 20 players return
so there is hope for improvement.
Senior Colin Chin centers the top line for left wing
Mike Rucinski and right wing Ray Staszak, and they
combined for 43 goals and 68 assists. Chin is already
the Flames' all-time leading scorer. Jim Hickey
returns as the number one goalie after starting 24
games as a freshman.
The race for the CCHA title should be a wide open
one between MSU, Western, OSU and Bowling Green
with Ferris State and Michigan hoping to leap into the
top four, but the Spartans have experience and
history on their side.
York
Ferris State Bulldogs
Coach: Dick Bertrand
Record : 18-20-3
CCHA: 13-15-2, 6th (tie)
Who to watch: Sophomores Paul and
Peter Lowden, top scorer Graham
Craig, defenseman Brad Hildestad;
goalie Rob Hughston. An improving
team whih could move into the top
four.
Prediction: Fifth
Biertrand(
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Lake Superior Lakers
Coach: Frank Anzalone
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Miami Redskins
Coach: Steve Cady
Illinois-Chicago Flames
Coach: Val Belmonte
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