M w w _W w w V V V V V 1V q v W I 2B - The Michigan Daily - FACEOFF 2001 - Thursday, October 4, 2001 The Michigan Daily - FACEOFF 2001 - Is it '98 all over again? Sneak Preview... Tradition has led to the resurgence of a proud Michigan hockey family By Naweed Sikora Daily Sports Wrinter Four seasons ago, 10 talented but unproven freshman burst onto the Michigan hockey scene and made an immediate impact. Along with senior goalie Marty Turco," senior captain Matt Herr and senior Billy Muckalt, the young team raised many eyebrows as it captured the NCAA title. Four years later the players are gone, but the team seems oddly familiar. Michigan once again finds itself with 10 talented newcomers to replace the 11 departures from the previous season. The team has a senior goalie in Josh Blackburn, who will begin his fourth season as a starter. Once agaiA, the team has a small senior class com- plemented by a strong junior class led by captain Jed Ortmeyer. And once again, the team will have several unknowns heading into the season. "We think that we are in the middle of the pack like everyone else in the CCHA," Michiga4 coach Red Berenson said. "I sense that we are a different team this year with different chemistry. I have no idea where we are going this year, but I think we will be a fun team to coach and watch. Night after night, it is anyone's game." Considered to be one of the finest recruiting classes in Michigan hockey history, the Wolverines' freshmen will play a huge role in the team's success this season. Berenson is not afraid to put his young players in key situations despite their lack of college experience.. "I really like the freshman, I am impressed by their work ethic and I think they are fitting in fine," Berenson said. "I know we will be faced with the possibility of playing three freshman forwards on one line, and I am not afraid of that." The freshmen are ready to accept the challenge, but are also being careful not to jump in too quickly. "I knew how nervous I was before the first practice, but it made it easier to know there were nine other guys that nervous also," freshman Eric Nystrom said. "Everyone's bigger, everyone's stronger, and everyone's a little more experienced out here, which definitely makes the pace a lot faster. I'm getting . 3 Return of thejed'i. . . The Man in the Iron Mask. Clear and Present Danger . 6 0 0 0 .7 w BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Daily Craig Murray is one of just four seniors returning to this year's team. used to it, each day gets a little better." "We're a young team and young freshman class,' freshman Milan Gajic said. "I think we're just going to take it one step at a time. The letter leadership on this team is excellent, and the sup- porting cast is there, which makes things a lot easier for us." Just as the senior Turco defended Michigan's goal in 1998, the senior Blackburn will stand in net for this year's Wolverines. See 2001, Page 5B 0 0 0 0 8 A Few Good Men . Phenomenon,* . Rat Race . . . The Old Barn. *. The Godfather.. Red October. . . . . . . . 0 . 10 . 12 . . . . 14 S0 . . 15 . . . S. 16 U r -1 * Saigon Gaher I Dine-In & Carry-Out Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine 1220 S. University (at the comer of Forest) Sun-Thur. 11 am to 11 pm SFri 11 am to 11pm '~Sat 130 am to 11 p 734 747-7006 Happy Birthday! Charley's would like to be the first to congratulate you with a free mel. Just bring along a friend and proper ID, and select your faworite entreefrom oufifmous menu. It's just our way ofsaying Congratulations and thanksfir clebrating withus. 1140 S. University at Chutrcii * 668-84111 MEXICAN CAFE Ann Arbor's Finest Mexican Style Food! Michigan's Largest Selection of Gourmet Hot Sauces & Salsas! WE DELIVER! call 761-6650 'til a.m. Sun. - Tues. 'til 3 a.m. Wed. - Sat. 333 E. Huron DAILY HOCKEY WRITERS Steve Jackson Seth Klempner J. Brady McCollough Naweed Sikora EDITOR IN CHIEF Geoffrey Gagnon MANAGING SPORTS EDITOR Jon Schwartz SPORTS EDITORS Raphael Goodstein Jeff Phillips Benjamin Singer Joe Smith COVER PHOTO David Katz BUSINESS MANAGER Courtney Morales DISPLAY SALES MANAGER Glenn Powlas SALES STAFF Ellen Gagnet Julie Glaza Julie Lee Kristin Nahhat Carrie Wozniak ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Vinh Nguyen SPECIAL THANKS Daniel Bremmer Kyle O'Neill Charles Paradis Paul Thomas Red Berenson Marjorie Marshall David Katz By Seth Klempner Daily Sports Writer Behind the sturdy wood desk in Michigan coach Red Berenson's office are two high arching windows that give the office a feeling of grandeur. Now entering his 18th season as head coach of the Wolverines, Berenson's influence on the program is larger than both of the windows. Berenson has fewr red hairs than he used to. But in their place is the gray that comes with wisdom and worldliness. He doesn't say much during practice. He doesn't need to. His presence alone forces players to skate just a little bit faster, shoot harder and play stronger. "He is a mentor for all of us. He is a hockey icon as far as I'm concerned," alternate captain Mike Cammalleri said. "Obviously he is concerned about hockey and the Michigan program," 1998 graduate Gregg Malicke said. "But he is more concerned about the individ- ual and how they do in life and whether they are happy." Berenson, a native of Saskatchewan, Canada was one of the first major talents to delay his professidnal career for the chance to earn a college degree - which he earned in 1962. Four years later, while still playing in the NHL, Berenson earned his masters degree in business administration from Michigan as well. That emphasis on education has fol- lowed Berenson throughout his coach- ing career. He has insisted that his play- ers be top performers on the ice and meet the academic standards of Michigan. Talk to Berenson and one will soon discover that he takes as much pride in enters his 18th a season as a M i hig an's head coach with a very inpressve horse ina981- bfr cetnh ground. Berenson -- a graduate of the University of Michigan class of 1962 - set Michigan records with nine hat tricks and 43 goals in a singleseason as a Wolverine Berenson went on to play in to the NHL for 17 years, finishing his career with 261 goals and 397 - asiss.After his re'irement, he coached in the NHL fortfie years - ors in 1981 - before ac cepting the head coaching job at Mighigan in 1984. Berenson has led the Wolverines to an overall record of 448-220-45 (.660), placing him - 15th all-time among NCAA hockey coaches in career wins. Berenson led Michigan to NCAA Champonshis in 996 and 199' as well as runner-up in 1997. He also led the Wolverines back to the NCAA Frozen Four last season for the players that go on to be successful off the ice as on. "It is important that players develop and be respected as people, not just as hockey players," Berenson said. "Making sure that my players have an education to fall back on and have another successful career. This is about people, not just athletes." Unlike the Michigan football pro- gram, Michigan hockey has not always been among the top in the nation. In fact, when Berenson was hired in 1984, the program was struggling and had lost touch with its roots. Berenson began applying the work ethic and organizational skills that he had acquired as a professional coach to return Michigan to the success it had experienced in the fifties and sixties - taking only seven years to return the pro- gram to among the nation's elite. He has reunited the Michigan hockey family to the point where last summer, 180 alumni returned for the annual hockey alumni weekend. "It is a great time to get together with friends and remember what we went through to become the people we are today," former Michigan goalie Marty Turco said of the reunion. In addition to reuniting the Michigan hockey family, Beenson has also made capital improvements to Yost Ice Arena that will ensure the financial stability of the program for years to come. Among these plans include an endowment fund which will relieve a financial burden from the Athletic Department, and club seating that will be a revenue stream into the future. When asked about his legacy as Michigan's coach and the man who returned the program to its former glory, Food for Thought Lessons from Terrorist Acts It is taught that the anti-war movement of the 1960s/'70 ended the Vietnam War. It can be argued effectively that the movement actually prolonged the war and cost tens of thou- sands of lives. Read A Viet Cong Memoir by Truong Nhu Tang and A Thousand Tears Falling by Yun gKrall for research. If you participate in rallies against our country over the September 11 terrorist attacks, do you become an ally of the terrorists? Gary Lillie & Assoc., Realtors www.garylillie.com Berenson sighed in contemplation. "I think one of the things we have tried to do is get this program not necessarily a dynasty but a team that has been a top program for a long time," Berenson said. "That was my first goal, to improve the image of Michigan hockey because it had been down a long time." "There has never been a person before who has had the stature in this game of college hockey," said David Brophy, one of Berenson's professors at the business school and a long-time friend. "There are many coaches who have great records but there is no one who has the spirit in it that Red does." Red Berenson won the won his second m goaltender Marty Turco and complimente The new Line Chinese Cuisine Kzii Garden Specialh in Hong X Hunan (313) 995-1786 Swchu 116 S.Main St.Style (Bewteen W. 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