Baseball
vs. Adrian
Sunday 1 p.m.
Ray Fisher Stadium
SPORTS
Softball
vs. Western Michigan
April 1, 3 p.m.
Varsity Softball Diamond
The Michigan Daily Thursday, March 27, 1986 Page 9
Wolverines land top hockey recruits
By SCOTT G. MILLER
Hockey coach Red Berenson's
devotion to building a winning
program is boundless, as is his sphere
of recruiting.
Seven recruits with homes spanning
ball of North America have verbally
committed to Michigan. National let-
ters-of-intent cannot be signed until
April 9.
TODD COPELAND, Randy Kwong,
Ryan Pardoski, Brad Turner, Brian
Deasley, Mike Moes and Alex Roberts
compose one of the finest incoming
classes ever at Michigan.
"I said when I came in I was going
to go after the best players
available," said Berenson. "For the
most part we've done that. This is a
big-league class. There are some kids
here that really have some potential."
The recruit with most promise is
Copeland, who could be a high second-
round draft choice in this year's NHL
June entry draft.
GOING AFTER the Massachusetts
native appeared to be an impossible
task. The 6-2 defenseman's father at-
tended Harvard, and many thought
Copeland would follow in his foot-
steps.
"Everyone pretty much had him
slated for Harvard," said Berenson.
I
Blue LinesI
~7rjRed leads charge. .
..jeiers on rebound
By ADAM OCHLIS
No more false optimism. No more irrational claims
of "sure we can beat State two out of three, no sweat"
from biased sportswriters. Nope. No more. Never again.
Christmas comes early this year for Red Berenson
and his Michigan hockey program. April 9 seven top-
notch recruits from all over North America will sign
letters of intent to play their college hockey in Ann Ar-
bor.
No longer are rumors circulating in East Lansing
that Michigan is going to pull a Notre Dame and fold up
its hockey program. Such was the case before Beren-
son came to the rescue. Nope. No more. Never again.
Berenson has spent two years behind the Wolverine
bench after taking over for John Giordano. Michigan's
record during that time is 25-52-1. Not too good. But the
renewed enthusiasm is a result of the recruits Beren-
son has been able to land already. Last year, while
not a strong year for recruits across the country, Berenson
grabbed two of the best in Myles O'Connor and Todd
Brost. Both are good hockey players. Both are good
leaders.
This year, in a very deep talent pool of recruits,
Michigan nabbed seven of them. When told one by one
of who had committed to Michigan, Boston Bruin
scout, Robert Tindall was surprised with how many
quality recruits the Wolverines got.
Ask O'Connor, Brost and the other players Berenson
has brought in why they chose Michigan, and you
always get the same answer - Red Berenson.
"I think it's everyone, it's not just me. My presence
helps and my reputation helps because the kids do get a
lot of feedback," said Berenson. "I know (defenseman
Todd) Copeland's had a lot of positive feedback that
he's coming to Michigan and he's going to play for me.
"And that's reassuring for a kid like that because he
could pick any school he wanted."
Perhaps overlooked in the year-long recruiting
process in assistant coach Mark Miller. The former
Wolverine hockey star travels continent-wide looking
for talent and talking to players. In recruiting O'Con-
nor, Miller often went up to Saskatchewan, Canada to
see him play, yet rarely talking to him, as only a cer-
tain number of conversations are permitted between
coach and recruit as set down by the NCAA.
Berenson is quick to point out how important Miller
is to the program.
"Mark has done an excellent job in that he sees
things the same way I do," said the 1981 NHL Coach-of-
the-Year. "And even though I may have more hockey
experience than he has, he still has a good eye for
talent."
While Berenson is highly respected throughout the
hockey world Miller is genuinely liked, which also
helps.
"He relates perfectly with people representing our
program and representing Michigan," said Berenson.
"So I'm not doing this alone. I might be spearheading
it, but I'm getting a lot of help."
Berenson also credits Assistant Academic Advisor
Bob Clifford for advising the Wlavers and the parents
with academic matters, and reinforcing the importan-
ce of doing well in school after the player had commit-
ted to Michigan.
By recruiting within a broad area, Michigan has
opened doors in both Canada and out East. Three of the
incoming freshman all played on the same team in
Calgary while Copeland, the most highly-touted of the
recruits, and three current Wolverines hail from
Massachusetts.
There are players out East who aren't leaving home,
said Berenson. "They're going to Providence or BC. So
there are some kids that are difficult for any school to
recruit. (Bowling G:reen coach) Jerry York doesn't
even recruit out there and he's from that area.
"I think Michigan had done very well. Our credibility
is certainly building out there."
So where does it leave the Wolverines? At times this
past season, only the rare occasion when Berenson
came dressed in his blue jacket, maize vest attire, did
Michigan have a chance of even staying close in a
game.
But with the incoming freshman, and a year's ex-
perience under the belts of this year's freshmen, im-
provement is almost a certainty. And Berenson can
sense it.
"I think the other coaches realize that Michigan is
going to be a team to contend with. That doesn't mean
we're going to go by everybody, but it means we're
going to catch up," he said.
Berenson, however, realizes that it will take time. It
might not be next year that Michigan rises to the top of
the CCHA. Odds are they won't. But listening to Beren-
son, who smiled more than ever when discussing the
"super seven", a feeling of optimism is in the air.
"Down the road I can see Michigan competing with
State and Bowling Green and Lake Superior," said
Berenson. "I'll feel bad if five years from now we're
still sitting behind four other teams. I just can't see it
happening. Not with recruiting years like this year."
Nope. No more. Never Again.
"To get him out of there was a bigger
accomplishment than we even
realized. He is the only top player to
leave the area."
"It is not very often you get kids
from New England to Michigan," said
Boston Bruins scout Robert Tindall.
"For Red Berenson to walk in and get
a top player like that is a coup for his
recruiting. It indicates he is going in
the right direction."
THAT DIRECTION took Wolverine
recruiting across the border to
Western Canada where defenseman
Turner and Kwong and left wing Par-
doski played for the Junior A Calgary
Canucks.
The 6-2 Turner is an excellent two-
way defender according to Berenson.
He broke an ankle at the end of his
junior season, but should be ready this
fall. Turner is projected as a second-
or third-round NHL draft choice.
Fellow defenseman Kwong comes
to Michigan from a family of athletic
tradition. His older brother was the
captain on Harvard's hockey team
last season, and his father Norm was
a legendary professional football
player in Canada.
THE 5-11 Kwong is only 16 years
old but is playing at a great hockey
level and is very mature for his age
according to Berenson. His natural
skating skills should enable him to
adapt quickly to the college level.
Rounding out the recruits from
Calgary isPardoski, who Berenson
called "a big man's Todd.Brost" in
reference to this year's leading
freshman scorer. The 6-0 left winger
has the same work ethic as Brost.
"He (Pardoski) makes things hap-
pen through hard work and second ef-
fort," said the Wolverine head man.
"He is a good checker and penalty
killer."
THE FIRST player this year to
commit to Michigan also played
junior hockey north of the border. Left
wing Deasley was with St. Mike's of
Toronto. Deasley, like Kwong, is 16
years old and has excellent potential.
"When the scouts go to watch St.
Mike's, he is always the best player,"
said Tindall. "He is not eligible for the
draft so the scouts drool a bit in an-
ticipation of next year."
Another Canadian recruit is 5-10
Moes of Burlington, Ontario. The cen-
ter is a skilled two-way player.
Closer to home defenseman Rober-
ts, who played for St. Clair Shores,
decided to attend Michigan. The 6-1
blue liner is a defensive specialist.
The Detroit native's mother and
father both attended Michigan State.
His father Doug was an All-American
hockey player for the Spartans, but
that didn't sway Roberts' decision.
"ALEX REALLY wanted to come
to Michigan," said Berenson. "He
really wanted to come, and that's
good."
So is the class overall. "It should be
a real good class of kids people-wise,
character-wise, and student-wise,"
commented Berenson.
The second-year head coach and his
staff are right on schedule to rebuild
the tradition-laden Wolverine hockey
program that he starred for in the
early 1960's.
"I think they have done a hell of a
job," said Tindall. "I don't know what
the other schools have , but it looks
like Michigan has done their
homework. They haven't been restric-
ted to one area. It looks like they have
been all over the place."
The recruitsswill be the nucleus of
future success. "The other CCHA
coaches realize Michigan will be a
team to contend with down the road,"
said Berenson. "We are getting on the
hockey map."
A map that knows no bounds.
Berenson
... attracts top prospects
I
BLUE FRONT
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----- / 5HUULD I LIVE?" \ "
The Housing Information Office has information and advisors
to help you with your questions about all types of housing:
RESIDENCE HALLS FOR FALL-WINTER 1986-87
Off campus students apply March 26 and 27
1011 SAB - Many halls available
RESIDENCE HALL FOR SPRING/SUMMER 1986
West Quad only
Apply beginning March 28- 114 SAB
Optional meal contracts available -113 SAB
FAMILY HOUSING APARTMENTS
Move in before June 15 - Apply now - 1011 SAB
Move in after June15 - Apply April11 -1011 SAB
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
-married or about to be married students
-those students with dependent children
OFF CAMPUS SUBLETS FOR SPRING-SUMMER
Posted ads in the main lobby of SAB
Sublet information-leases, inventory checklist-1011 SAB
Roommate matching booklets - 1011 SAB
*OFF CAMPUS HOUSING FOR FALL/ WINTER 1986-87*
Large management company listings - 1011 SAB
Independent landlord ads - Main lobby SAB
Roommate matching booklets - 1011 SAB
'Citvmans -1011 SAB .i
f
*1
i
/ / "o